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Charging System Questions and Answers - This category
contains featured questions as examples. They relate to most vehicles.
Question: 1998 Chevy Impala mileage: 55,000. Hi...my girlfriend's
old Impala eats batteries! We had one burst last month, thought it frozen. Got a
replacement, now this one is belching sulfurous gasses and is warm to the touch
after the car has run for a little while. Not cold enough to freeze - possible charging
system problem? Sometimes the interior lights/radio lights go dim, then bright
again, also. The alternator is putting out about 14.7 volts, the battery is
charged to about 13.5 volts, seems high. I thought maybe the voltage regulator
could be bad, but don't know where it is on that year vehicle! Otherwise a
great low-mileage nana car...any advice you guys could give on where to start looking
for the problem would be appreciated!
Answer: Check the ground wires to make sure
they are in place and making good contact, especially the battery cable ground connection
to the motor. If this checks out okay, you probably have a faulty alternator.
Question: 1999 Ford Probe4-cyl mileage: 108,000. I have
a question regarding my car's charging system. It has a history of charging system
problems. The system completely failed about 3 years ago, I ended up replacing the
battery, alternator and power distributor. Everything was fine until about a year
ago when the system quit again, I had it checked and it was the alternator again.
I replaced it myself and it was fine again until now. However, now it has some occasional
problems with overcharging.
I have not had any problems with light bulbs or fuses burning out. However, a
couple times a week the voltmeter will read slightly above normal. There were a
few squeaks in the belt, after which I tightened it and although the noise is mostly
gone, the same problem with overcharging still exists. I have also noticed that
the car seems to lose some power when it is doing this, but the acceleration will
pick up again once the voltmeter is reading a normal charge. Do you have any ideas
on what might be causing this?
Answer: Your intermittent charging problem may be caused by poor ground
connections somewhere in the system. Replace the belt for the alternator. Belts
squeak due to slippage and must be replaced.
Question: 1998 Chevy Camaro mileage: 105,000. My question is about
the charging system. My alternator has just given out. I took the alternator
off to have it tested and was told the diode trio was bad. I bought a new
alternator, but nothing has changed. I returned it to have it tested and it
was fine. I have checked all fuseable links going to the alternator and starter.
The car is still not charging. P.S I also had the battery checked and it was
fine. I don't know what else to do without spending a lot of money at a repair
shop.Answer: Check the small power wire that hooks to the back of the
alternator to see that it is getting 12-volts when you turn the key on.
Question: 2004 Honda Civic Sedan mileage: 75,000. My engine wasn't
starting so I took it to a friend's auto shop to have it worked on. He found that
the alternator was bad and the engine flooded. I got the alternator fixed
but the battery still won't charge. The mechanic mentioned something about
the IG wire or the L wire wasn't properly connected to the exciter on the alternator
so the alternator wasn't being "told" to work. What does this mean exactly?
My father and I are going to attempt to fix this but we need some help. Thanks
for your assistance.Answer: The wire the mechanic is talking about is
a small wire that provides 12-volts to the alternator when the key is on.
The 12-volts signals the alternator to start working. Your car was originally
equipped with this wire, so it is probably there somewhere located close to the
wiring loom next to the alternator.
Question: 2002 Hyundai Elantra mileage: 52,000. Excuse me!! I am from
Costa Rica, and I don't know how to write my question in English, then, I will write
it in Spanish. I hope, you can answer me soon! El auto enciende la luz de
bater�a en el tablero, y le cambi� el alternador. Despu�s de 1 semana, la volvi�
a encender, y ahora est� siempre encendida. Que puedo hacer?Ser� necesario cambiar
el regulador de corriente del alternador nuevamente?Answer:
We have a rudimentary understanding of Spanish so here is our best shot, first in
English then in Spanish: From what you tell us, it sounds like you may be
having trouble with your charging system. Have your battery load tested and
check the alternator output for voltage and amperage. The voltage regulator
is part of the alternator. Both should be replaced at the same time as a unit.
De lo que usted nos dice, suena como usted puede tener apuro con su sistema de carga.
Tenga su carga de la bater�a probada y controle el alternador hecho salir para saber
si hay voltaje y amperaje. El regulador de voltaje es parte del alternador.
Ambos se deben substituir al mismo tiempo que una unidad.
Question: 1999 Mercury Tracer mileage: 125,000. I was on the highway
today, with my window defroster (front and rear) on, my stereo, which employs a
300-watt amp, and my headlights and we were stuck in a traffic jam. After
about an hour and a half of idle sitting, my car died and the battery appeared to
be dead. I just had the alternator changed last year and when that was dying
my battery light popped on, but that didn't happen this time. When I got the
car back home, I just jumped it and it started fine. What could be the problem?
Answer: You may or may not be having a problem with your car.
From what you have described, you may have just drained your battery down.
Think of your battery as a bank account with a limited amount of money in it.
As you drive your car at highway speeds, you are putting money into the bank (charging
the battery).
As your car sits and idles with you window defroster, stereo and headlights on,
you are withdrawing money from the bank. Eventually you will run out of money
and the car will die. The battery may be weak in your car or it may be not
have sufficient capacity.
Question: 1999 Buick Le Sabre mileage: 82,000. The alternator light
on my 1999 Buick glows dimly when the car is running. The battery must be charging,
because I drive the car day & night and have not had a dead battery yet. I
hate to replace the alternator if it is not faulty. Any suggestions?
Answer: The alternator is probably getting weak. The alternator
light will glow dimly when the diodes in the alternator start to fail.
Question: 1998 Ford Windstar mileage: 135,000. My Windstar runs
on just battery power. I have changed the alternator and checked all of the
wires. It will run for about 5 miles on a fully charged battery before the
battery is completely drained. Do you have any suggestions?
Answer: Your definitely having some problems with the charging
circuit. Check the alternator output for voltage and amperage. Also,
check the main power wire from the alternator to the battery. Check your electrical
system for electrical drains.
Question: 2001 Ford E150 van mileage: 70,000. Just recently, I rebuilt
my alternator, tried new batteries, checked my regulator, and replaced an old solenoid.
The trouble is that when driven using accessories the battery looses power and will
not run the engine. If the positive cable is removed while the engine is running,
the engine will die. I am led to believe that somewhere in the wiring there
is a short or a misplaced wire. If you can either give me advice or help me
in any way, I would be very grateful.
Answer: Check alternator output for voltage and amperage.
Check the main power wires from the alternator to the battery. I all checks
ok, replace the alternator.
Question: 1998 Ford Escort mileage: 120,000. The battery light suddenly
came on and a DVM reading on the battery showed 13.5V not running and slowly drops
to 12.3V when the engine is running. I believe the alternator is not charging.
However, before I buy a rebuilt alternator could it be something else?
Answer: Before you buy another alternator,
check present alternator for voltage and amperage output. In addition, load
test the battery.
Question: 1999 Dodge Spirit mileage: 70,000. Hi, my
alternator over charges- periodically it puts out about 18 V and I can hear the
battery sizzling. 1. I have swapped out the alternator- makes no difference (so
the alternator is not the problem). 2. I have swapped out the battery- makes no
difference. 3. Last Dec. I replace the computer so I would like to think this is
not the problem. 4. I have checked the wiring harness. Any ideas?
Answer: Your problem may be simple like a loose or poor ground wire. If
ok install a new alternator.
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