1983 Chevy Suburban Alternator/charging system

EFBEZZINA

MEMBER
1983 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN
V8
4WD
AUTOMATIC
140,000 MILES

I replaced my alternator needlessly cause the new one is doing the same as old one. I'm not getting voltage out of the back of the alternator post and after jumping the voltage continually drops. Does this sound like a bad ground? Or could it have something to do with the ignition switch. Help!

stuck in Vegas

4 Replies

SERVICE WRITER

MECHANIC
9,123 POSTS

I would be VERY suspicious that you may have gotten a defective alternater right off the shelf.

In some instaces, rare, (but it happens) we have had 3 bad ones right on the shelf on some applications.

Test the alternater.

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Sunday, December 23rd, 2007 AT 9:23 PM

EFBEZZINA

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Monday, December 24th, 2007 AT 8:30 AM

SERVICE WRITER

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Was that an echo I heard?

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Monday, December 24th, 2007 AT 11:46 AM

EFBEZZINA

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Thats not an echo that was me trying to figure out how to reply, I'm new to this. Anyway I did have both alternators tested and they were both good. I then replaced the battery and the ground cable from alternator to battery and cleaned up some connections. So far so good. I'm just confused cause I even if the battery was bad, shouldn't the alternator still be putting out 12volts off the back post. Thank you for the reply and I did donate.

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Monday, December 24th, 2007 AT 4:22 PM