Ok, I have a 1992 2.3l (baby motor) There must be a new parasite that consumes electricity because something is not working right. It seems to be consuming all of the output amps from the alternator. The battery never gets charged. The short will not pop any fuses either. anybody have any good ideas? The battery and alternator is new.

What I have done so far is check all of the wiring from the alternator. It is good and their are no shorts to ground from it. [>:]

 

I assume you have tested the alternator. ? what is not working right. New alternator means nothing. In 2 years I have put 4 "rebuilt" ones in mine. Lifetime warranty. They just don't know how long I keep a car. Something that would consume that much power and not blow fuse. Usually causes fire. Does charging indicator in dash show charge? How long does it take to go down? I had problem with a 90 with sunvisor lights not shutting off. By the welcome.

 

i have had the same problem with rebuilds......i wen tthrough 3 of them on my last car and thsi reman is actually holdign up for over 2 years now on my current stang....

1) test alternator, if not already done
2) Check battery, i have had one freeze on me and it wouldent hold a charge after that
3) Voltage regulator

Other thigns to check are if you have a sound system...make sure the amp is turnign off (blue remote wire) and or make sure things like the visor lights (mgman) and or other small electrical things are functioning correctly

 

2/4/2008, I took the new alternator down and had it retested. Proved good along with the volt reg on the back of the alternator. I am seeing a slow drain over the period of ten minutes; in that time it will go down to 8v. The dash reader does read fairly accurate but my Fluke 177 is more accurate.
As to a fire I do not smell smoke or anything burning, but that does not mean that there isn't. I understand that there has been a problem with the ignition switches causing a fire in the steering wheel column. Do you know anything about that?

 

This is the bummer of the whole thing, I have checked the alternator,regulator, and battery. The alternator,reg and battery are all new. I also am positive that it is wired right.
I used my multi meter and watch it on idle for ten minutes. Slow drain until it shuts off.

 

hold on....if the car is running...should be around 14 volts or so, and you are watchign the voltage drop and the car dies...probably around 7 or 9 volts...then its your alternator...it wont keep the charge to yoru battery...unless i missunderstood what you were saying??[:-]

 

Well since got meter. And if got one you probably know how to use. Good. What I would do. Charge up battery Then disconnect it. Take off all wires of battery side of starter soolinoid. Hook up one of them. I would not run engine now. Try with ignition switch on an off. Then watch meter see if that one drains it. If not disconnect it then hook up another. Same procedure. Go thru them all. Should find it that way. I would live all wires off the alternator. See if ok. I have heard of alternator draining a battery. But it is extrememly rare. Once you find the wire with all the amp draw. Look at color and repost. Autozone and another site has wiring diagram. If luck only goes to one item. And can trace thru car to find. That will be the bummer may have remove partial interior and maybe splice open harness hope not. Let us now worry about that till find out which wire it is.

 

Fixed it!!!!!!!! I am amazed that his fixed the problem but, I was getting feed back on the a wires connected to the alternator. I installed a .75 cent diode. In DC currant the diode acts as a gate and will stop any feed back. The car charges the battery fine now. but as to where the feed back is coming from could take years to find. something in the wiring harness and there is a lot of it to inspect. For now though it is working.

 

Get you another alternator. I have heard of them doing this. Sounds like the diode in the alternator to prevent this is bad. Like said heard of alternators draining battery. Rare but has happpened