Bad Mojo

I know a good reliable electrical shop here in Sac if you are interested. I didnt see an answer from you..... Do you have a multimeter or not? They come in real handy! I wish i lived a little closer to you, i would love to come help you try to track this down.
 
I have a cheap one, non-digital. Ya Let me see how things go in the next couple days since I am still on job hunt!
 
You need to have a good one to read the high Amp output, or you will blow the fuses in the meter. Experience speaking here !
 
OK so I just installed the Kragens alternator and it went from 14.0 v to 13.5v in half a minute then about another minute went by and it slowly dropped to 13.0 v, and the autozone one went from 13.5 to 13.0 in about 15 seconds. and and and the PA just went poof :)
 
I am not an expert but it still sounds like a grounding issue to me. Did you try revving the motor up a little to see if the alternator puts out more juice? Was the battery charged before swapping alternators? I read on another post that if you dont have a fully charged battery when swaping the alternator, it will kill the new alternator.
 
FYI

1. Engine off - battery standing voltage.
With the engine off and fully charged battery, hook up the meter directly to the battery terminals(not clamp, bolt, nut, etc...). Read the meter as volts DC.

2. Engine running - lo idle - no load charging voltage.
Engine running at idle, all lights, accessories and AC off. Read the meter after voltage stabilizes from starting engine.

3. Engine running - hi idle - no load charging voltage.
Engine running at 1500 RPM, all lights, accessories and AC off. Read the meter.

4. Engine running - full load charging voltage.
Engine running at 2000 RPM, lights on high beams, AC on MAX(blower on high). Read the meter.

The "no load charging voltage at idle" and the "full load charging voltage at 2000 rpm" should be about 0.5 volts higher than the "battery standing voltage" at a minimum.

The "no load charging voltage at 1500 rpm+" is typically max output of the regulator.

Temperature reduces the output of the alternator as well, so a cold alternator output will be higher than the output when the alternator is hot.
 
driller said:
Temperature reduces the output of the alternator as well, so a cold alternator output will be higher than the output when the alternator is hot.
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That is probably why the output starts to drop.

What do you mean when you say the PA went poof? Did you buy a bunch of alternators or what!?

Also....if you're having electrical issues, I can refer you to Mikes Engine Energizer if you'd like. Another also, if you don't have a warranty on any of the alternators, you can drop them off at Boyles Future Tech in Auburn and get a new regulator slapped on for around 40 bucks.
 
They have warranties, I mean the PA alternator stopped working(when I installed it I had a brand new battery also.) I tried charging my battery completely with the kragens alt and it didnt drop off for a minute or two. I am wondering what the heck is going on at this point or if the PA just crapped out and the low voltage from both alternators was coming from a half charged battery.
 
Got it smogged and registered. Just tested the alt and its charging low again. I think it might be a failing battery(it's new,but a little bit of water coming out the top it looks like)
 
Misanthropy said:
Just tested the alt and its charging low again. I think it might be a failing battery(it's new,but a little bit of water coming out the top it looks like)
Click to expand...

The battery may have a bad cell? If it does, it will kill any alternator given enough time. The bad cell also drains the other cells when not being charged. Then the alternator not only has to fight the bad cell, it is constantly trying to overcharge the others.

Usually on a wet cell battery you can look in each cell to determine if one is bad. When being charged, if you see one cell doing nothing but the others are effervescing(bubbly), you have found a bad cell. A load test will usually find a battery with a bad cell as well.
 
I wasn't able to get a new battery yet, but I am going to take the one out of my crown vic that is brand new and use it for now. I really think the bad cell might be what it is, considering when the battery was fully charged, it didn't take away from the alt.
 
Ya I was referring to what he said copper.

I just found out my best friends brother is going to become one. Then go for detective.
 
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