well if you buy a new battery with a bad alternator, expect the battery to die as the alternator will not charge the battery. if you have a bad alternator. buy a new one along with a new battery, and problem should be fixed. Stangers with more knowledge correct me if im wrong.

 

if you've changed the alternator 3 times then you've changed the voltage regulator 3 times. sure cobra alternators go bad all the time, but usually once not 3 times. when an alternator is rebuilt it is rebuilt using new parts, so the voltage regulator would be new. if you've replaced the same part 3 times its time to start looking at other possible causes of your problem. have you checked all your grounds? low voltage will very quickly damage electrical parts.

 

Yeah...like I said............INTERMITTANT SHORTS! [8D]

 

where should i look for a short that can be causing this problem?

 

Check your grounds too...that could also be a big problem.

Follow the cables/wires that come from the starter to the distribution block, then to the battery, and then the ignition hot wire that goes through the dash.

At every connection that involves a red wire under the hood, check it with a voltmeter. When the car is off, then when the car is switched to accesory mode (no start, just to turn the radio on/windows/etc.), then when the car is running. If you see any voltage below 12vwith the car off, you havea short somewhere...and with the car on, nothing should be under 13v, or just as important, over 14.5v.

 

Also, it may be a good idea to change your belt. It it's slipping, which is a possibility, it will cause the alternator to not run properly.

 

I was reading guys's conversation my 2000 Mustang V6 has a similar problem with the alternator I rebuilt it twice way to keep popping last time lasted about 3 days I'm thinking it's a short I'm also thinking it might be the volt gauge it doesn't move but thanks to the Forum I now know what the color code is to disconnect it

 

This thread is almost 10 yrs old, if you want a response, it might be better to open a new thread also in the correct subforum under V6.