Alternator Issues - Name your Turn Key Pump Pedal Ritual

[OllI]

Thanks in advance to all those who just might provide me some satisfaction at work tomorrow afternoon.

I've got some interesting things going wrong with my charging system.

What should I look at first.

My voltage reads 13.9.

Just put in a new battery...and it died.

Jumped the car and it started fine.

My guess would be wiring - understanding specifically that there is an important loop to keep with an according light in the dash.

First, I'm not to sure what I'm supposed to see - upon turning the key - if my charging system was working fine.

Can anybody offer up a nifty way to keep track of what I should see/method to turning my ignition key?

Should I start the car with the heater off or on? Radio on/off. Wipers on/off.

Simple questions I know go back to certain starting rituals a few of you have out there.

LMK - TIA

Nick

[Mike Self]

1. Always make it a practice to turn off all accessories before starting your car...no sense in unnecessarily distracting the battery from its primary function at that moment--putting amps to the starter--especially in very cold or very hot weather.

2. Your alternator warning light on the dash should light up when you turn the ignition on, and should stay lit when you turn the key to "start." Soon as the engine is running, it should go completely out. If it doesn't come on when you turn the ignition on, that's your problem. The light must be working (not burned out) for the alternator to charge.

3. If the alternator light doesn't go out when the engine begins running (about 4-500 rpm) then there's a fault somewhere--the alternator isn't charging, the battery has no volts, a bad wire or connection somewhere etc. You have to track down the problem.

4. Have you checked the three prong plug that fits into the back of the alternator? the wires and/or plug can go bad, or it can simply come loose. It's supposed to be held in place with a wire bail, but it's often missing. Check the similar plug in the bottom of the voltage regulator. Also the alternator must have a ground wire that runs from the alternator body to the engine block. No ground wire, no workee. And the battery negative terminal must have two wires--one leading to the block, the other to the body. If one is missing, you'll have all sorts of electrical gremlins.

Check the above out, and post what you find.

cheers

mike

[Guest Anonymous]

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[Guest Anonymous]

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