Battery not being charged, alternator tests OK

MattwantsSpeed · 10-19-2002, 05:56 PM

I hope someone can give me some ideas, I've posted this on another forum so maybe one of the 2 can help me. I know PKRWUD knows his *****

Well to make a long story short, my foot got stuck on the gas when I hit the brake and the car went into the curb/sidewalk sending my radiator, fan and fan shroud forward. About an hour before this I noticed the car wasn't starting, it sounded like the solenoid was clicking and then all of a suden that ***** happened. So we fixed the rad and right now the fan and fan shroud is off cuz I'm putting an elec fan on.

Now to the question/problem, My car was starting weird like I said and now the gauge has been real low and when I drive or rev, the gauge is real low and the AMP light is on. I took out the alternator and had 2 places bench test it and both came out good. I tested the battery and it came out marginal. SO I thought it was the battery. I tried the battery out of my g/f's mustang and it did the same *****! So now I'm stuck cuz it's not the battery or the alternator. When I hit that curb could I have jarred something or didn something?? I hate this electrical *****. Sorry I'm venting guys, thanx

Matt

HotRoddin · 10-19-2002, 07:46 PM

Do you have a meter that you can measure the voltage at the battery ? Sometimes things test different on the bench than they do when you have them in the circuit under load.

Coolbreeze · 10-19-2002, 10:25 PM

Also check the fuseible link that comes off the starter relay to the ALT. Want to say it is blue or green wire,, but can't remember exactly

Look in the Chiltons or Haunes manual and it will say which and how to test...

DRASTiK · 10-20-2002, 12:59 AM

This problem could easily be caused by a hot wire's insulation being rubbed off or melted and it making contact with metal. Friend had the same problem in his Chebby truck. Turned out to be a pinched wire between the bellhousing and the chassis.

Conman · 10-21-2002, 03:33 PM

I just got thru an ordeal like this
for my car it turned out to be the wiring between the batt and alternator. It runs underneath the battery box and some acid got down there and corroded the wires.

Get a volt meter and start testing the wires running from the alt to the batt

LX XLR8R · 10-21-2002, 03:35 PM

sounds ;ike a great time to upgrade to a 3g..one wire hook up strainght to the startersoiloniod(battery post side) and one plug..got to love it

bigred90gt · 10-21-2002, 03:49 PM

Come to think of it, I had a similar problem with mine. There is a wire coming off the neg side, and at this moment I'm not too sure where it goes but I'll look, and it would get hot to the point that it was melting the jacket. I replaced the wire with some heavy duty wire from work, offshore service power cables, and have had no problem since. I'll see where the wire goes and post it soon.
Caymon

Falcons Talon · 10-21-2002, 03:52 PM

I just recently upgraded to the 3g and it's well worth it and easy. I got a $50.00 junkyard alt! Didn't even have to Dremel the bracket (thanks to an autospecialties alt bracket included w/ the pulleys.) Black Magic runs fine, cooling system runs fine, everything euns great...time to start work on the body!

USMC302 · 10-21-2002, 05:58 PM

Could maybe be the voltage regulator too.

USMC302 · 10-21-2002, 06:06 PM

You can check it with a voltmeter

Here

MattwantsSpeed · 10-21-2002, 10:35 PM

I don't know how it happened but, the green 14ga wire that comes off the starter relay had completely broken and a good chunk of wire was sticking out. Now I just have to fix it, I guess I'm going to use a butt connector.

Matt

Conman · 10-22-2002, 09:31 AM

if I were you I would cut that whole section of wire out and get some new wire

soldering and heat shrink tubing is the best then you won't have problems with it again

10-19-2002, 05:56 PM	#1
MattwantsSpeed Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lakeland, Fl Posts: 224	Battery not being charged, alternator tests OK I hope someone can give me some ideas, I've posted this on another forum so maybe one of the 2 can help me. I know PKRWUD knows his *** Well to make a long story short, my foot got stuck on the gas when I hit the brake and the car went into the curb/sidewalk sending my radiator, fan and fan shroud forward. About an hour before this I noticed the car wasn't starting, it sounded like the solenoid was clicking and then all of a suden that * happened. So we fixed the rad and right now the fan and fan shroud is off cuz I'm putting an elec fan on. Now to the question/problem, My car was starting weird like I said and now the gauge has been real low and when I drive or rev, the gauge is real low and the AMP light is on. I took out the alternator and had 2 places bench test it and both came out good. I tested the battery and it came out marginal. SO I thought it was the battery. I tried the battery out of my g/f's mustang and it did the same *! So now I'm stuck cuz it's not the battery or the alternator. When I hit that curb could I have jarred something or didn something?? I hate this electrical **. Sorry I'm venting guys, thanx Matt __________________ 89 LX Hatch 5.0 5spd, alot of miles, terrible 2.73's, mac cai, pullies, Tri-Ax, 16 timing, elect fan, 3G alt Best to date: 14.331@97.46mph with 14*/stock fan/short belt and a 2.222 60' in 90 degree weather Waiting to put on Off road H and 1 5/8 headers Rice Hater's Club #36

10-19-2002, 10:25 PM	#3
Coolbreeze Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: ~Columbus~GA~31909~ Posts: 156	Also check the fuseible link that comes off the starter relay to the ALT. Want to say it is blue or green wire,, but can't remember exactly Look in the Chiltons or Haunes manual and it will say which and how to test... __________________ Mike Blown~AOD'ed~331~ T-top~ 86GT Check out car on my page here ------ > ~~My 86GT T-top ~~

10-20-2002, 12:59 AM	#4
DRASTiK Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Yuma, AZ Posts: 536	This problem could easily be caused by a hot wire's insulation being rubbed off or melted and it making contact with metal. Friend had the same problem in his Chebby truck. Turned out to be a pinched wire between the bellhousing and the chassis. __________________ Dave 88 GT - 13.4@106 on street tires (2.2 60ft) My Stang RHC member #75 My stang is FOR SALE!!

10-21-2002, 03:33 PM	#5
Conman Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Kingston, Ontario Posts: 351	I just got thru an ordeal like this for my car it turned out to be the wiring between the batt and alternator. It runs underneath the battery box and some acid got down there and corroded the wires. Get a volt meter and start testing the wires running from the alt to the batt __________________ '88 lx, Black on Black, check it out here Spent all my money on school, what a dumb mistake I'm old enough to know better, but still too young to care.

10-21-2002, 03:35 PM	#6
LX XLR8R Dirk Diggler Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: SLOATSBURG, NY Posts: 1,931	sounds ;ike a great time to upgrade to a 3g..one wire hook up strainght to the startersoiloniod(battery post side) and one plug..got to love it __________________ 95 undecided cubes, AFR 185s,undecided cam, undecided intake, and a 150 hit 89 "turbonotch" 2.3T You might want to hold on..i saw this on a cartoon once

10-19-2002, 07:46 PM	#2
HotRoddin cranky old man Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Longview Texas Posts: 683	Do you have a meter that you can measure the voltage at the battery ? Sometimes things test different on the bench than they do when you have them in the circuit under load.

10-21-2002, 03:49 PM	#7
bigred90gt 2 Stangs in the Stable Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Baytown, TX Posts: 1,209	Come to think of it, I had a similar problem with mine. There is a wire coming off the neg side, and at this moment I'm not too sure where it goes but I'll look, and it would get hot to the point that it was melting the jacket. I replaced the wire with some heavy duty wire from work, offshore service power cables, and have had no problem since. I'll see where the wire goes and post it soon. Caymon __________________ '90 GT Under construction Best E.T. = Fast @ High Speeds - OK So I Lie. So What!!! 04 F-150 STX 4.2L 5 spd Rice Haters Club Member #128

10-21-2002, 03:52 PM	#8
Falcons Talon T.P.M. President Join Date: May 2002 Location: Brownsville Posts: 265	I just recently upgraded to the 3g and it's well worth it and easy. I got a $50.00 junkyard alt! Didn't even have to Dremel the bracket (thanks to an autospecialties alt bracket included w/ the pulleys.) Black Magic runs fine, cooling system runs fine, everything euns great...time to start work on the body!

10-21-2002, 05:58 PM	#9
USMC302 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Gallatin, Tn Posts: 1,326	Could maybe be the voltage regulator too. __________________

10-21-2002, 06:06 PM	#10
USMC302 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Gallatin, Tn Posts: 1,326	You can check it with a voltmeter Here __________________

10-21-2002, 10:35 PM	#11
MattwantsSpeed Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lakeland, Fl Posts: 224	Problem Found!! I don't know how it happened but, the green 14ga wire that comes off the starter relay had completely broken and a good chunk of wire was sticking out. Now I just have to fix it, I guess I'm going to use a butt connector. Matt __________________ 89 LX Hatch 5.0 5spd, alot of miles, terrible 2.73's, mac cai, pullies, Tri-Ax, 16* timing, elect fan, 3G alt Best to date: 14.331@97.46mph with 14*/stock fan/short belt and a 2.222 60' in 90 degree weather Waiting to put on Off road H and 1 5/8 headers Rice Hater's Club #36

10-22-2002, 09:31 AM	#12
Conman Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Kingston, Ontario Posts: 351	if I were you I would cut that whole section of wire out and get some new wire soldering and heat shrink tubing is the best then you won't have problems with it again __________________ '88 lx, Black on Black, check it out here Spent all my money on school, what a dumb mistake I'm old enough to know better, but still too young to care.

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