alternator problem
01-22-2009, 04:49 PM
#1
3rd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bel Air, MD
Posts: 599
alternator problem
the ammeter in my car jumps back and forward depending on how much im on the gas. at WOT it will charge around 13v normal but at idle it sits around 8v. i pulled my alternator and got it tested at autozone and they said its fine. what could be causing this? the serpentine belt is brand new also so i dont think its a slipping problem. someone said it could be a electrical connection grounding out somewhere?
01-22-2009, 05:09 PM
#2
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location:
Posts: 172
Take a volt meter and check it with the engine not running you should have battery voltage then crank the car and let it idle check it again and see the voltage should go up a volt to a volt and a half should be 13 or a little more
then rev the engine some and hold the rpm's at 2 or 3000 rpms it doesnt matter and see if the voltage is still around 13v or a little more
If this is not what happens you probably have a bad alternator if this is what happens then it is good and you have a problem with the guage or something
then rev the engine some and hold the rpm's at 2 or 3000 rpms it doesnt matter and see if the voltage is still around 13v or a little more
If this is not what happens you probably have a bad alternator if this is what happens then it is good and you have a problem with the guage or something
01-22-2009, 10:28 PM
#6
3rd Gear Member
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bel Air, MD
Posts: 599
it was doing this before we bought a new battery. i believe it might be a short somewhere but i dont know where to begin looking. also, i dont know if this has anything to do with it, but if my gas light comes on when im low on gas, turning my heat on will cause the light to go off and when i turn my heat off the gas light comes back on.
01-22-2009, 10:35 PM
#8
3rd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bel Air, MD
Posts: 599
i dont know if the car has underdrive pulleys or not, it had many mods on it the seller didnt know about. the tensioner seems fine though since ive had to take the belt off to replace it and also get out the alternator to get it tested.
is there any way for me to tell if it has underdrive pulleys or not?
is there any way for me to tell if it has underdrive pulleys or not?