Alternator Problem
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Alternator Problem
Hello, I would love any and all input on this current problem. I have had my 84 vette since August of 23, bought it with the alternator putting out un-regulated voltage. I took off the high torque starter as it did not have the same terminals and meticulously figured out which wire should go where on the stock starter. Replaced the battery for a bigger CCA as the old one was done for, now the alternator and battery read 1 volt while running. I had the alternator checked and it works good, could the starter still be wired wrong?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,656
Likes: 804
From: Saskatoon Sask.
Hello, I would love any and all input on this current problem. I have had my 84 vette since August of 23, bought it with the alternator putting out un-regulated voltage. I took off the high torque starter as it did not have the same terminals and meticulously figured out which wire should go where on the stock starter. Replaced the battery for a bigger CCA as the old one was done for, now the alternator and battery read 1 volt while running. I had the alternator checked and it works good, could the starter still be wired wrong?
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 939
Likes: 242
From: Fruita CO
How are you checking the voltage? You should use a mult-meter set at 20 volts on the DC scale. Touch the battery terminals and you should see at least 12 volts. Start the car touch the terminals and you should see at least 14 volts, that's what your alternator is producing. Most big box stores, hardware stores and Harbor Freight sell inexpensive digital multi-meters for under $20.00 That will do all you need and you need one if you own a C4. Let us know how it goes.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Once the car starts the alternator has 1v coming out which for some reason at the battery it reads 1v
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 376
From: Liberty, SC
2023 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Sorry to be a dunce but i cant see what youre doing 😁
You have your meter set to the 20VDC range and are attaching the black lead to the - terminal of the battery and the red lead to the + terminal of the battery... and when the egine is running, youre getting a reading of 1 volt. Is that what youre saying?
You have your meter set to the 20VDC range and are attaching the black lead to the - terminal of the battery and the red lead to the + terminal of the battery... and when the egine is running, youre getting a reading of 1 volt. Is that what youre saying?
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 939
Likes: 242
From: Fruita CO
QUOTE=Gigi_84;1607784976] I had the alternator checked and it works good, could the starter still be wired wrong?[/QUOTE] If the starter is wired wrong, I doubt it would crank the engine.
Last edited by slammin; May 7, 2024 at 05:10 PM. Reason: additional info
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,656
Likes: 804
From: Saskatoon Sask.
Dude! You still haven't told us what your problem is! The alternator checks out. You have a new battery. Apparently, the car starts and runs. What, exactly, is the issue you are dealing with? Your meter reads 1 volt? Is that the problem? Who GAF if the car operates normally?????
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 209
Likes: 81
From: Dalbo, Minnesota
You need to measure from the battery positive terminal and ground. Alternatively you can measure from the alternator positive terminal and ground.
if you measure from the battery + and alternator + you are measuring the voltage drop over the cable.
if you measure from alternator + and the starter + terminal while cranking you are measuring the voltage drop across the starter cable. If you measure voltage here without the starter engaged there is a partial short and the battery will go dead after a while.
ground is either the battery - terminal or a good connection to the frame or engine block.
if you measure from the battery + and alternator + you are measuring the voltage drop over the cable.
if you measure from alternator + and the starter + terminal while cranking you are measuring the voltage drop across the starter cable. If you measure voltage here without the starter engaged there is a partial short and the battery will go dead after a while.
ground is either the battery - terminal or a good connection to the frame or engine block.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Sorry to be a dunce but i cant see what youre doing 😁
You have your meter set to the 20VDC range and are attaching the black lead to the - terminal of the battery and the red lead to the + terminal of the battery... and when the egine is running, youre getting a reading of 1 volt. Is that what youre saying?
You have your meter set to the 20VDC range and are attaching the black lead to the - terminal of the battery and the red lead to the + terminal of the battery... and when the egine is running, youre getting a reading of 1 volt. Is that what youre saying?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Dude! You still haven't told us what your problem is! The alternator checks out. You have a new battery. Apparently, the car starts and runs. What, exactly, is the issue you are dealing with? Your meter reads 1 volt? Is that the problem? Who GAF if the car operates normally?????
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
You need to measure from the battery positive terminal and ground. Alternatively you can measure from the alternator positive terminal and ground.
if you measure from the battery + and alternator + you are measuring the voltage drop over the cable.
if you measure from alternator + and the starter + terminal while cranking you are measuring the voltage drop across the starter cable. If you measure voltage here without the starter engaged there is a partial short and the battery will go dead after a while.
ground is either the battery - terminal or a good connection to the frame or engine block.
if you measure from the battery + and alternator + you are measuring the voltage drop over the cable.
if you measure from alternator + and the starter + terminal while cranking you are measuring the voltage drop across the starter cable. If you measure voltage here without the starter engaged there is a partial short and the battery will go dead after a while.
ground is either the battery - terminal or a good connection to the frame or engine block.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,656
Likes: 804
From: Saskatoon Sask.
I am going to bow out of this one. The OP is a newbe, nothing in his profile and too many weird posts. I think he/she/they/them/ze/zir is just fkn with us. First post, he says he took out the high torque starter because "The terminals were not the same". WTF does that mean? Says the alternator was putting out unregulated voltage. How does he know? No explanation of any tests. The one volt claim makes no sense.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
I am going to bow out of this one. The OP is a newbe, nothing in his profile and too many weird posts. I think he/she/they/them/ze/zir is just fkn with us. First post, he says he took out the high torque starter because "The terminals were not the same". WTF does that mean? Says the alternator was putting out unregulated voltage. How does he know? No explanation of any tests. The one volt claim makes no sense.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 376
From: Liberty, SC
2023 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Hm. That wouldnt help much in troubleshooting. I dunno if thatd happen or not. I have read to not disconn the battery while it is running. I think that overvolts and blows out the alternator.