Spriggs01

Im having a problem with my charging system.... So ive tried just about everything, new alt, battery tested good, also added a 1/0 wire off the neg term, gleaned up the ground going to the block, checked all around in and out of the car for loose wires, shorts, etc. The car has its moments, sometimes it fires right up, sometimes it clicks then its dead. All the connections to the starter, battery, solo, alt are ok. I even pulled the stereo out and capped off all the wires, theres no ligths staying on. while it idles, the battery drains, lights are dim, everthing dims. Ecspeciallly when the heater is turned on, or even the blinker. Some people say it could be the underdrive pullies, but idts... The belt is tight, also new. Please someone thats had this problem before help me out.. Its so embarrising when i have to push and jump the car all the time... im pretty mechanically inclined but cant seem to find the problem, thanks

88 orangepeel notch

So just to clarify, you ARE running underdrive pulleys? Because they do kill the charging at idle. It sounds like you've checked everything, but curious how you checked a battery drain while at idle. Can you give us any volt readings that your checking, have you did a load test on the new battery? Sometimes new doesn't mean it's good.

Spriggs01

I just got it tested at autozone, the battery is good. Hte altenator is what was new, and i appreciate the reply! And the battery was reading 12.7 V not sure about the alt, but the last time i checked it it was around 12v which is low, but not too low. I put three alts on there, one after another to try and see if that was the pronlem. But like i said alot of people have said it could be the under drive,, anyway to get around without swapping them back to stock? When it idles, the batt reading staedily drops, if it idles awhile and i cut it off it it wont start, sometimes even idles till it dies..

dawson1112

You know IIRC there is a fusible link in the charging system some where that when it goes bad he system will not charge. Maybe some one here has that diagram , but I will look for it I know I had it some place saved on my computer .

Spriggs01

Ok ill try and look for one, thanks for the reply. If you come across one please do post it, id appreciate it alot. Thanks again

mongolchuck

What year is the car?

Spriggs01

its a 92

mongolchuck

Sorry. I see now under your avatar. The main wire off the alt is black/orange that becomes green as it winds its way to the starter relay. The fusible link is closer to the starter relay. check and make sure you have power (12v) to the yellow wire on the alt. The yellow wire has a separate fusible link off the green.

aode08

With a volt meter, if you get 12.7 at idle, then rev it up, now you have 14 volts or close, the under drive setup is slowing the rotation of the alternator down.

No matter how tight the belt is, its simply spinning too slow.

Easy fix, go back to stock, or instal a 3g/4g setup alternator like I did and OPTIMA red top battery.

If you have a boom box system, instal a 1.0 or so Farad Capacitor.

The 5.0 electrical system really sucks *****,add things like under drive pullies, and boom box, you've just skinned the cat.

Spriggs01

Ok thanks! So where could I find a set of stock pullies? I can't find them anywhere! If you could give me a sight or link that'd be awesome. Thanks