1988 Plymouth Reliant Battery? Altenator? WHAT!

Tiny
MECHANICALLYDECLINED81
  • MEMBER
  • 1988 PLYMOUTH RELIANT
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 102,000 MILES
On our car, you can't run the lights and heat at the same time because the battery level starts to drain. We've had the altenator and battery both checked and even went as far as to get a new battery. Lately it had gotten better but tonight we could only run the lights and any time we stopped at a stop light, the battery level started to dip. Any suggestions would be great.
Sunday, March 29th, 2009 AT 10:06 PM

2 Replies

Tiny
OBXAUTOMEDIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,711 POSTS
Hello,

It very well could be the alternators voltage regulator.
If you have a digital volt meter carry it with you and when the voltage start to drop stop and check the charging status. Follow the link below to test alternator...

https://www.2carpros.com/how_to/how_to_test_alternator.htm

.
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Sunday, March 29th, 2009 AT 10:27 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 34,330 POSTS
Slipping belt is possible, but it sounds like there's a bad diode in the alternator. With one of the six of them defective, you will lose two thirds of the rated output. Many of these alternators were rated at 55 amps. With a bad diode, the most you will get is around 20 amps. Ten amps can be used up running the electric fuel pump, ignition system, and fuel injector. Two headlights take another ten. Any more electrical demands will start to drain the battery.

Some parts stores only test alternators for output or lack of it, not how much. The system should be load-tested on the car. If you can't get at least 50 amps, do the "full-field" load test. This will bypass the voltage regulator in case that's the problem. I can copy and paste the instructions if you want to try that yourself.

Caradiodoc
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Monday, March 30th, 2009 AT 11:38 PM

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