underdrive charging woes!!!maybe! lol!

fast88 · 04-01-2002, 05:58 PM

I recently istalled a set of march underdrive pullies on my car and deleted the a/c at the same time.I have been having problems with the battery going dead.The gauge shows that at idle the car isn't charging at what it used to but at speed say1800 rpm the gauge is showing above what it used to (on the second line above the half way on the stock ammeter).I thought at first it may be the battery and it still may be its just a cheap economy from advance but I didn't have any charging problems before the pullies.It takes a couplee of days for the battery to go dead .I have charged the battery today and put it back in the car without driving to see if maybe there is a short killikg the battery.I have heard that sometimes the voltage reg. will stick and drain the battery while the car is sitting,any truth to that??Has anyone ever had this problem??Do I need a bigger alt with the pullies ??

joe4speed · 04-01-2002, 06:20 PM

When I put my pulleys on my stock '88 alt. I went through batteries left and right. I finally upgraded to the 130 amp alternator and didn't use the pulley. It's fine now.

LOWKEY · 04-01-2002, 06:51 PM

Yep, underdrives and a stock alt means dead batteries. Some people don't have any problems, most do. Check out http://www.pa-performance.com & http://www.geocities.com/smithmonte/ for more info on the 3g alternator.

ultraflo · 04-01-2002, 08:50 PM

Upgrading to a higher amp alternator is a VERY good idea. If you do not wish to spend 200+ dollars on a new unit, call March and see how much they want for the overdrive alt. pulley...

Just a suggestion, options are always nice! I ran the stock alt with the overdrive pulley (I believe it was in the neighborhood of $40) with good results for some time until upgrading to a 130 amp unit from Performance Distributors. The PA is cheaper and looks to be just as good if not better than the one I run.

Good Luck

Oh BTW, factor in a new serpentine belt if needed (Gatorback $40+) and you might consider just buying the alt. now that I think of it...

Afterall it's up to you

fast88 · 04-01-2002, 10:04 PM

At least now I know I am not alone ,I think I will go ahead and upgrade to a bigger alt. .I have been searching the car up and down for a short glad to know its the pullies.If I just put the stock alt. pulley back on will that do it?

ultraflo · 04-01-2002, 10:11 PM

It may help some, but I doubt it will cure the problem...

The overdrive pulley that I mentioned worked great until I added a bunch of extra elec. stuff (fan, nitrous system and bottle heater, monster fuel pump, water pump, etc.)

I say spend the dough on the 130 amp critter and be done with it...

04-01-2002, 05:58 PM	#1
fast88 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Rockingham,N.C. Posts: 80	underdrive charging woes!!!maybe! lol! I recently istalled a set of march underdrive pullies on my car and deleted the a/c at the same time.I have been having problems with the battery going dead.The gauge shows that at idle the car isn't charging at what it used to but at speed say1800 rpm the gauge is showing above what it used to (on the second line above the half way on the stock ammeter).I thought at first it may be the battery and it still may be its just a cheap economy from advance but I didn't have any charging problems before the pullies.It takes a couplee of days for the battery to go dead .I have charged the battery today and put it back in the car without driving to see if maybe there is a short killikg the battery.I have heard that sometimes the voltage reg. will stick and drain the battery while the car is sitting,any truth to that??Has anyone ever had this problem??Do I need a bigger alt with the pullies ?? __________________ 88 Notchback orig. 4 cylinder car with a efi v8 swap from a wrecked 89 5.0 hatch,edelbrock performer rpm's 190/160,typhoon intake,comp cams 1.6 rockers,65mm tb and spacer,pa performance c4 w/ 3000 stall,3.73's auburn pro, 31 spline mosers,mac off road h-pipe,1 5/8 shorties ,and 2 1/2 pro dumps,kirban fpr,190 lph walbrp. SOON TO BE BLOWN!

04-01-2002, 06:20 PM	#2
joe4speed He said Member...heh, heh Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Jupiter, Florida U.S.A. Posts: 3,718	When I put my pulleys on my stock '88 alt. I went through batteries left and right. I finally upgraded to the 130 amp alternator and didn't use the pulley. It's fine now. __________________ *Joe!* 1988 GT, 13.58@101mph Check out my listing! Click here! Or my website:www.joe4speed.com

04-01-2002, 06:51 PM	#3
LOWKEY Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: greenvile, NC Posts: 161	Yep, underdrives and a stock alt means dead batteries. Some people don't have any problems, most do. Check out http://www.pa-performance.com & http://www.geocities.com/smithmonte/ for more info on the 3g alternator. __________________ 89' Notch Stroked Poked & BLOWN low 11's and it goes around corners too Parts for Sale!! http://www.lowkey.stangnet.com/catalog.html

04-01-2002, 08:50 PM	#4
ultraflo NX dealer-man Join Date: Sep 1998 Location: Peoria, Illinois Posts: 977	Upgrading to a higher amp alternator is a VERY good idea. If you do not wish to spend 200+ dollars on a new unit, call March and see how much they want for the overdrive alt. pulley... Just a suggestion, options are always nice! I ran the stock alt with the overdrive pulley (I believe it was in the neighborhood of $40) with good results for some time until upgrading to a 130 amp unit from Performance Distributors. The PA is cheaper and looks to be just as good if not better than the one I run. Good Luck Oh BTW, factor in a new serpentine belt if needed (Gatorback $40+) and you might consider just buying the alt. now that I think of it... Afterall it's up to you __________________ RLS Racing! 93 LX 9.20 @ 147mph 03 Mach 1 12.39 @ 116mph

04-01-2002, 10:04 PM	#5
fast88 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Rockingham,N.C. Posts: 80	thanks At least now I know I am not alone ,I think I will go ahead and upgrade to a bigger alt. .I have been searching the car up and down for a short glad to know its the pullies.If I just put the stock alt. pulley back on will that do it? __________________ 88 Notchback orig. 4 cylinder car with a efi v8 swap from a wrecked 89 5.0 hatch,edelbrock performer rpm's 190/160,typhoon intake,comp cams 1.6 rockers,65mm tb and spacer,pa performance c4 w/ 3000 stall,3.73's auburn pro, 31 spline mosers,mac off road h-pipe,1 5/8 shorties ,and 2 1/2 pro dumps,kirban fpr,190 lph walbrp. SOON TO BE BLOWN!

04-01-2002, 10:11 PM	#6
ultraflo NX dealer-man Join Date: Sep 1998 Location: Peoria, Illinois Posts: 977	It may help some, but I doubt it will cure the problem... The overdrive pulley that I mentioned worked great until I added a bunch of extra elec. stuff (fan, nitrous system and bottle heater, monster fuel pump, water pump, etc.) I say spend the dough on the 130 amp critter and be done with it... __________________ RLS Racing! 93 LX 9.20 @ 147mph 03 Mach 1 12.39 @ 116mph

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