(I'm a recent graduate of a very popular automotive school so I try to do as many repairs on my car myself) I changed the alternator but when I started the car the battery died, then I discovered that the cable with the circular metal ring that attaches to the alternator had the metal part broken off and the copper wiring was exposed at the end and looked kinda britle.
I had the metal part that attaches to the cable changed and everything seemed fine until later when the light came back on then shut off several times while driving.
This time I tighted the belt alittle more but I had to guess how much I had to tighten it hoping not to snap the belt.
It worked for about a week and now the light has come back on and off several times again, that battery voltage is normal at 13.2 v and all the connections to the alternator are secure and I am using the new alternator.
So the way I see it I have either 2 problems: the wire needs to be repaired or replaced but I don't have the tools to splice any new copper wiring nor do I know how to replace just that part of the whole cable (cause the damage goes pretty far up in to the insulation) or the alternator is back right out the box, I have a digital multi-meter but I for got how to test whether it's working correctly or not.
Then again I keep wondering also if the belt is too loose or too tight and I for got how to measure whether that's right or not (which is why I'm not working as a mechanic).
I'm going crazy trying to figure out if I just for got everything or if I'm just overly paranoid about my lack of reall-world experience, either way I need help with this problem.
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Saturday, November 11th, 2006 AT 2:12 AM
