Belt Tensioner...
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,409
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore MD
Belt Tensioner...
I swear, I think winter is the month for my 'vette to hit me in my wallet! :(
Anyways, I just finished replacing the valve covers, the gasket, the power steering reservoir, and having the windshield and seal replaced. Now, the voltage in my car is incredibly low. Normally it runs [at bare minimum] at 13.8, and most of the time it's in 14.0+ range. Now, the day I get the car back from having the power steering reservoir done and the windshield and seal replaced, the voltage is at max 11.1. With the accessories on it runs at maximum of 10.6. The battery is new and has been great [I believe it's in the 1000 CA range] and the serpentine belt is fine. My question, does the low voltage [although it does start up fine but only stays in the mid 10 or low 11 range] indicate a bad alternator? Or is it possible that the belt isn't tightened enough? Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks
-Steve
Anyways, I just finished replacing the valve covers, the gasket, the power steering reservoir, and having the windshield and seal replaced. Now, the voltage in my car is incredibly low. Normally it runs [at bare minimum] at 13.8, and most of the time it's in 14.0+ range. Now, the day I get the car back from having the power steering reservoir done and the windshield and seal replaced, the voltage is at max 11.1. With the accessories on it runs at maximum of 10.6. The battery is new and has been great [I believe it's in the 1000 CA range] and the serpentine belt is fine. My question, does the low voltage [although it does start up fine but only stays in the mid 10 or low 11 range] indicate a bad alternator? Or is it possible that the belt isn't tightened enough? Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks
-Steve
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,047
Likes: 0
Re: Belt Tensioner... (puck)
Put a meter on it just to be doubly sure. But if the alternator is spinning... it should be throwing a charge. If you run the car for several minutes and the charge never goes above 12vdc, then you're alternator is probably doa. Could be another gremlin, but doubtful. Internally regulated alternators are an easy thing to test and replace!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: Belt Tensioner... (puck)
Your alternator has no output. First check to see if the plug in connector on the alternator got bumped and is not fully seated. Next, with the engine off, there should be battery voltage on the big red wire on the alternator, if not, someone accidently shorted this terminal to ground when working on the car and blew out the fusible link in the red wire which goes to the jump start terminal next to the battery. Good luck.
