Electrical Issues or just bad battery?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 769
Likes: 22
From: California
FL Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor'13
Your welcome.
BTW, running the car at 11vDC will quickly destroy your new battery (note my earlier post -- 12 vDC implies a near dead battery). So, be VERY careful driving the car as is -- and DO NOT turn on any electrical devices (including the heat & radio) until repaired. Low voltage will damage electrical motors (coolant fans, heater fan, seat motors, antenna motor) and may damage electronics (e.g. dash, CCM, alarm, ECM).
FYI, Volt meters (aka VOM) are inexpensive ($20-$50, better ones have 'high impedence' to reduce damage chances to sensitive electronics), they are very easy to use, and a great way to diagnose simple problems and save lots of dough -- no garage should be without one -- next time your at Wally, Radio Shack or a car parts place, pick up a Fluke or similiar brand, worth their weight in gold...
BTW, running the car at 11vDC will quickly destroy your new battery (note my earlier post -- 12 vDC implies a near dead battery). So, be VERY careful driving the car as is -- and DO NOT turn on any electrical devices (including the heat & radio) until repaired. Low voltage will damage electrical motors (coolant fans, heater fan, seat motors, antenna motor) and may damage electronics (e.g. dash, CCM, alarm, ECM).
FYI, Volt meters (aka VOM) are inexpensive ($20-$50, better ones have 'high impedence' to reduce damage chances to sensitive electronics), they are very easy to use, and a great way to diagnose simple problems and save lots of dough -- no garage should be without one -- next time your at Wally, Radio Shack or a car parts place, pick up a Fluke or similiar brand, worth their weight in gold...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 282
Likes: 1
From: East Windsor New Jersey
Would the alternator keep charging the battery if its faulty though? The new battery, even after running with everything for an hour still read like around 11 volts.
But I'll definitely do what you are suggesting. Thanks. So much for a new alternator being put it by the previous owner. Have the receipt for it and the installation but this is kind of bugging me.
Anyway, thanks again for everyone's input!
But I'll definitely do what you are suggesting. Thanks. So much for a new alternator being put it by the previous owner. Have the receipt for it and the installation but this is kind of bugging me.
Anyway, thanks again for everyone's input!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 282
Likes: 1
From: East Windsor New Jersey
Running it will kill the battery and other things quickly? Got it! Won't run it until I get the alternator checked and see what's going on.
What a pisser, but thankfully it's not my primary vehicle
What a pisser, but thankfully it's not my primary vehicle
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 282
Likes: 1
From: East Windsor New Jersey
The old battery wasn't holding a charge anyway. I went out yesterday morning to start the car it was totally dead. Brought it somewhere to check it and it wasn't holding a charge. So it's been a two fold issue until I bought a new one. This one's holding a continuous charge but it's not where it should be.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 282
Likes: 1
From: East Windsor New Jersey
Continuing ...
Checked all connections. including terminals. All look clean and wires look good at connections. No cuts in wires along casing.
Looked through my receipt book and found the previous owner's purchase and installation of a USA Industries remanufactured alternator 7803-11 from June of 2007. Both previous battery and alternator were installed at that time. The guy had the car sitting around for about 3 years before selling it to me. Can an alternator become a problem if it's connected and never used for that time? I'm going to be removing the alternator probably Tuesday and getting it checked but figured I'd ask so I can be prepared to spend some cash should it be bad.
Once again everyone, thank you for all the advice!
Checked all connections. including terminals. All look clean and wires look good at connections. No cuts in wires along casing.
Looked through my receipt book and found the previous owner's purchase and installation of a USA Industries remanufactured alternator 7803-11 from June of 2007. Both previous battery and alternator were installed at that time. The guy had the car sitting around for about 3 years before selling it to me. Can an alternator become a problem if it's connected and never used for that time? I'm going to be removing the alternator probably Tuesday and getting it checked but figured I'd ask so I can be prepared to spend some cash should it be bad.
Once again everyone, thank you for all the advice!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 769
Likes: 22
From: California
FL Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor'13
Continuing ...
Checked all connections. including terminals. All look clean and wires look good at connections. No cuts in wires along casing.
Looked through my receipt book and found the previous owner's purchase and installation of a USA Industries remanufactured alternator 7803-11 from June of 2007. Both previous battery and alternator were installed at that time. The guy had the car sitting around for about 3 years before selling it to me. Can an alternator become a problem if it's connected and never used for that time? I'm going to be removing the alternator probably Tuesday and getting it checked but figured I'd ask so I can be prepared to spend some cash should it be bad.
Once again everyone, thank you for all the advice!
Checked all connections. including terminals. All look clean and wires look good at connections. No cuts in wires along casing.
Looked through my receipt book and found the previous owner's purchase and installation of a USA Industries remanufactured alternator 7803-11 from June of 2007. Both previous battery and alternator were installed at that time. The guy had the car sitting around for about 3 years before selling it to me. Can an alternator become a problem if it's connected and never used for that time? I'm going to be removing the alternator probably Tuesday and getting it checked but figured I'd ask so I can be prepared to spend some cash should it be bad.
Once again everyone, thank you for all the advice!
Since yours is re-manufactured and sat up for 3 years it could be slowly dying and not being able to provide but the 11V of charge and that is all. I would definitely get it tested but I think your looking at a new alternator.
Good luck, Stephen
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 769
Likes: 22
From: California
FL Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor'13
Mine sat up for 3 years never started or even opened outside in the middle of a field with no cover or anything.
Mechanically it still has a few problems I am diagnosing with the help of people on here and trying to fix. Only real problems with mine so far is the heater core had a small leak and the radiator cracked where the transmission cooling line went into. Fixed those pretty cheaply and easily. Now dealing with a possibly clogged cat or bad TPS sensor still trying to figure it out.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 282
Likes: 1
From: East Windsor New Jersey
Sat for pretty much the same amount of time. He claimed he started it twice a month and drove it around his parking lot, but a big tranny leak, bad torque converter, and gummed up brake lines kind of told me another story. But the engine had only 77k miles and he was the second owner. Price was right so I took it. It runs great and the interior isn't bad except for cracks/ small tears in the seats.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 769
Likes: 22
From: California
FL Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor'13
Sat for pretty much the same amount of time. He claimed he started it twice a month and drove it around his parking lot, but a big tranny leak, bad torque converter, and gummed up brake lines kind of told me another story. But the engine had only 77k miles and he was the second owner. Price was right so I took it. It runs great and the interior isn't bad except for cracks/ small tears in the seats.
I drained and check the tank no rust or any leaks and filled it up. Bought a battery from a friend who never needed it for $75 brand new just sat for about 2 months of no use. and replaced the fuel pump and filter for about $120 and it started right up with no problem and ran perfectly fine.
I have since replaced some things like rotted vacuum lines and as I said radiator and heater core.
I replaced all the interior that was needed. Carpet and seats were replaced and console lid. All plastic was mostly fine I just re-dyed them to black. All it needs is painted which I will have done by a close friends who is only going to charge for supplies..
I think that I came out pretty good at the end and it sounds like you have also.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 282
Likes: 1
From: East Windsor New Jersey
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 769
Likes: 22
From: California
FL Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor'13
Good, I always buy new alternators because I had bad luck a couple of times with re-manufactured ones. Also has a lifetime warranty which is great also. Since you said it was easy to remove I am gonna guess you probably have it installed also, if so how is it doing now, working properly?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 769
Likes: 22
From: California
FL Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor'13
You should take some pictures or video it and make a "How To" for other users on the form to use when they need to replace their alternator. Would make a great addition for the newer C4 owners or ones that don't know how to change the alternator yet.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 282
Likes: 1
From: East Windsor New Jersey
And, once again, thank you all for your help and advice! Very much appreciated!