Bad Alternator? Suggestions?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 352
Likes: 1
From: Dayton OH
Bad Alternator? Suggestions?
I've been having some electrical problems lately with my 2002 coupe... specifically, my radar detector stopped working because the wiring to it started blowing fuses constantly (after working fine for a few months). I checked it with a multimeter and the voltage when turning the keys on the detector's wiring right at the fuse jumps to 18V and settles back down to 12V. I've already eliminated the possibility of a short somewhere causing high current, so I went to have the battery load tested just to make sure it wasn't causing any problems.
The battery was fine, but the peak amp output when running around 2000rpms was only around 30A, when I guess it should be more like 80 or 90 on an engine like this. Is that a sign of an alternator going bad?
Any suggestions for further diagnosis? Thanks in advance.
The battery was fine, but the peak amp output when running around 2000rpms was only around 30A, when I guess it should be more like 80 or 90 on an engine like this. Is that a sign of an alternator going bad?
Any suggestions for further diagnosis? Thanks in advance.
Last edited by jmliles; Apr 29, 2005 at 11:24 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,537
Likes: 84
From: St. Joseph MO
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Originally Posted by jmliles
The battery was fine, but the peak amp output when running around 2000rpms was only around 30A, when I guess it should be more like 80 or 90 on an engine like this. Is that a sign of an alternator going bad?
Any suggestions for further diagnosis? Thanks in advance.
Any suggestions for further diagnosis? Thanks in advance.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Before you get TOO deep in alternator repairs, I recommend taking your car to a local "ALTERNATOR/STARTER REPAIR SHOP" and have them test the charging system for proper operation. If you were reading current to the battery, it may only need 30-40 amps to work properly. A good shop will be able to "PROPERLY" load test your system and tell you what is wrong and fix it for you for a good price!
More than likley your system is fine. Check the voltage at the battery and see what you get on the battery terminals when the car is OFF, then when engine is running and the electrical load is minimal and when the electrical load is very high (lights on high, HVAC fan on high, coolant fan running, stereo on ect>>>>
Bill C
More than likley your system is fine. Check the voltage at the battery and see what you get on the battery terminals when the car is OFF, then when engine is running and the electrical load is minimal and when the electrical load is very high (lights on high, HVAC fan on high, coolant fan running, stereo on ect>>>>
Bill C
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 352
Likes: 1
From: Dayton OH
Well, the fuse actually isn't blowing only on startup... anytime the wiring has power. There's definitely not a short, so I really am clueless as to why this would start happening all of the sudden.
And to top things off, the cigarette lighter on the dash stopped working too, but the fuse is fine. I hate electrical problems.
And to top things off, the cigarette lighter on the dash stopped working too, but the fuse is fine. I hate electrical problems.
