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Burning through alternators

Tiny
CORALZOMBIE
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  • 2002 MERCURY MARQUIS
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 75,698 MILES
2002 mercury grand marquis.

I have burned out 2 reman alternators in 2 days. When driving one would put out 17 volts the other puts out about 13.5 but wont charge a new battery, they both would screech like they are dying and were remans from 2 different manufacturers. I figured a short somewhere could be causing this.
After removing fuses I noticed that when I remove the fuse in my power distribution box that is marked "Generator, Starter control relay, fuses 15 and 18" the alternator will run much quieter, the load on it is quite less. Fuse 15 is my ABS and removing this does not change the noise I can hear of how hard the alternator is running. There is no fuse 18.

Maybe I just had bad luck with reman alternators but I think I have a short in my starter control relay. The car starts fine when I have this fuse in but the alternator is obviously under a much higher load with it.

Where is the starter control relay at? It is not inside my distribution box so I am wondering if it is mounted on the firewall somewhere?
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Saturday, August 13th, 2011 AT 4:46 PM

18 Replies

Tiny
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O.K. Going to need to do some testing Do you have a Digital Volt Ohm Meter? And bacis knowledge of electronics?
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Saturday, August 13th, 2011 AT 5:08 PM
Tiny
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Yes and yes. I have tested the alternator. With this fuse out it put out 12 volts when car is off so does battery. When car is on with this fuse off it puts out 13.5 so does battery. When I put this fuse in the alternator acts as if it is under a heavy load. I am sure the current is increased but I dont have an amp clamp. The nearest I can figure is that something on the circuit to my starter relay is causing the alternator to work harder. I can't find this relay by following the wires from my starter I think it may be on the firewall behind the engine not sure though
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Saturday, August 13th, 2011 AT 5:59 PM
Tiny
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It may be that I have just had bad luck with alternators but A new one wont be in stock until monday afternoon and they parts place suspects I have a short that is causing my alternator to work harder. They suggested I use an amp clamp on the alternator wire. The amps should drop below 40amps after car has been running for 1 minute with no lights, radio etc. But I do not have an amp clamp.
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Saturday, August 13th, 2011 AT 6:02 PM
Tiny
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Pull plug on ALT see diagrams one will be yourskey on connect volt meter from TERM "A" to BATT POS does meter read.5v or higher?
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Saturday, August 13th, 2011 AT 6:10 PM
Tiny
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Forgot pics
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Saturday, August 13th, 2011 AT 6:12 PM
Tiny
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When running or when car is off?
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Saturday, August 13th, 2011 AT 6:17 PM
Tiny
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Just key on all fuses installed
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Saturday, August 13th, 2011 AT 6:33 PM
Tiny
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Reads 3mV .003 Volts DC
Key on all fuses installed.
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Saturday, August 13th, 2011 AT 6:45 PM
Tiny
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Now OHM chcek from ALT body to engine and NEG BATT terminal what are readings?
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Saturday, August 13th, 2011 AT 7:09 PM
Tiny
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Starter relay in high current box on left fender behind fuse box and blower motor
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Saturday, August 13th, 2011 AT 7:12 PM
Tiny
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52 ohms to neg battery terminal 6 ohms to engine block
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Saturday, August 13th, 2011 AT 7:26 PM
Tiny
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Do you have a picture of where this relay is located?
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Saturday, August 13th, 2011 AT 7:27 PM
Tiny
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Do you have a picture of where this relay or the high current box is?
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Saturday, August 13th, 2011 AT 7:27 PM
Tiny
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To much resistence clen ALT mount and NEG BATT cable till OHMS drop to zero. Resistence causing ALT to overcharge. Sending pic of box but starter relay has nothing to do with problem
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Saturday, August 13th, 2011 AT 7:45 PM
Tiny
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Why would the alternator run harder when I place that fuse in?
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Saturday, August 13th, 2011 AT 7:52 PM
Tiny
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Fuse energies field ie. Rotor windings
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Saturday, August 13th, 2011 AT 7:55 PM
Tiny
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When you say clean the alt mount do you mean where it bolts to the engine? I check the cable from alt to battery and have 2 ohms, good continuity.
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Saturday, August 13th, 2011 AT 11:55 PM
Tiny
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Yes also NEG BATT terminal and where it attaches to blocy 56ohms way to much
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Monday, August 15th, 2011 AT 3:06 PM

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