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PKRWUD · 09-09-2001, 07:25 PM

mustangLX92-
As Unit mentioned, repeated draining of your battery will kill it, and that may be part of your problem. I have never been fond of disconnecting the battery from an ECM equipped running vehicle, and am not convinced that the alternator is your problem. If the fusible link between the alternator and the starter relay was bad, the engine would kill when you disconnected the battery. Besides, the screwdriver trick is surprisingly accurate. You need to get a voltmeter, and connect it to your battery. note the reading. Next, start the engine and idle it at 1500 for a minute or two. Observe if the voltage increases. If it doesn't, shut off the engine and connect the voltmeter negative lead to the alternator frame, and the positive voltmeter lead to the alternators output terminal. Start the engine. If the voltage increases now, you have a bad fusible link. You really should have the battery load tested as well to see if the problems you have had have killed any cells.

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09-09-2001, 07:25 PM	#11
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	mustangLX92- As Unit mentioned, repeated draining of your battery will kill it, and that may be part of your problem. I have never been fond of disconnecting the battery from an ECM equipped running vehicle, and am not convinced that the alternator is your problem. If the fusible link between the alternator and the starter relay was bad, the engine would kill when you disconnected the battery. Besides, the screwdriver trick is surprisingly accurate. You need to get a voltmeter, and connect it to your battery. note the reading. Next, start the engine and idle it at 1500 for a minute or two. Observe if the voltage increases. If it doesn't, shut off the engine and connect the voltmeter negative lead to the alternator frame, and the positive voltmeter lead to the alternators output terminal. Start the engine. If the voltage increases now, you have a bad fusible link. You really should have the battery load tested as well to see if the problems you have had have killed any cells. ------------------ Retired Moderator MustangNet My site: JimPorterRacing RACECAR spelled backwards is RACECAR HEY !!! Are you ASE Certified ??? If you are, ask me about iATN. The best tool you'll ever have, and it's free !!!