Need help!

[White5.0]

Car wouldnt start today and found out the battery was bad. got a new battery but after putting it in my voltmeter was low and my battery light was still on. I let the car idle for a while to see if the voltmeter would go up and light would come off but it did not. I figured it would be the alternator so i took it to get it checked at advance. Alternator was still working fine. I'm not sure why the battery isnt getting charged by the alternator and would like to find out before this battery dies and i have to recharge it. Maybe a bad wire or wires?? someone please help! lol

[S+@ng]

after those many trips to advance auto why didnt we think that it might be the voltage regulator??

[White5.0]

mike do you even know what the voltage regulator is, what it does, or where its at? the regulator is on the alternator and i got it tested and everything was fine. so unless testing it has nothing to do with the regulator then youre a newb.

[5k#Eaton]

didn't your dad have a similar problem with the car back when he had it? I am pretty sure we changed the wires with newer ones that were not worn

[5k#Eaton]

you talking about the coupe or vert?

[White5.0]

didn't your dad have a similar problem with the car back when he had it? I am pretty sure we changed the wires with newer ones that were not worn

ya he got new battery wires but the problem he had back then was it wouldnt start at all...my car starts but according to the voltmeter and battery light its not going to start for much longer.

[White5.0]

Talking about the 5.0 by the way:awsome:

[S+@ng]

correction: yes, after 86 they were built in to the alternator but you dont have to be a d i ck head about it

[White5.0]

correction: yes, after 86 they were built in to the alternator but you dont have to be a d i ck head about it


well i know that you're a huge newb and there was not a doubt in my mind that you had no idea wat a voltage regulator was. so i decided to speak out against you becuase im asking for help from someone who knows more than me, not less:yes: . go introduce yourself by the way no one knows who you are or what V6 you drive.
:owned:

hehe. anyway enough about that and back to the subject. Can anyone please help me out?

[INSANELY CRAZY]

well ur first mistake was going to advance. they sell nutin but junk... id take the alt. somewhere else (autozone etc..) get a second opinion.. or were did u buy the battery? shops do sell bad (even though new) batteries..
just an idea.. keep us posted on how it works out for ya...

[White5.0]

well i figure if the alternator was tested on a machine it really wouldnt need a second opinion anywhere else. But, i did buy the battery there and it is a cheap-o autocraft silver battery that could possibly be bad. I got the new battery because after testing the old one and finding it to be bad i also found out that it was still under its 2 year warranty so i got another one for free (which shows you how bad they suck if they go bad in less than 2 yrs)

[INSANELY CRAZY]

yea, thats wierd, maybe since it's starting now, drive it somewhere and have a place hook up your car while it's running, they can find out your volt's and tell you if the battery is bad on that machine.. or if the alt is weak but working... sometimes under load on a running car can get better results..

[White5.0]

ya that does seem like a good idea...ill just have to check and see who can do that for me.

[J-rod]

ya that does seem like a good idea...ill just have to check and see who can do that for me.


advance does it. dont know about autozone....i wont go there for shiit.

[White5.0]

advance does it. dont know about autozone....i wont go there for shiit.


Thanks jared. That way i dont have to go around lookin for a place:awsome: But ya i think a lot of the auto places suck. The pep boys near me is terrible. I also just had a bad experience with advance a couple of weeks ago where i had to go back to the store 3 times within the same hour to take back parts because i was given the wrong things.

[wick]

Check the wires in the plug for the alt. they are known to go bad and get a bad connection.

[Viper_ed]

FYI, the voltage regulator is internal on the alt.

[White5.0]

FYI, the voltage regulator is internal on the alt.

Ya thats why i figured if it was tested good then it obviously wouldnt need a new one. nor would i even replace it...i would just get a new alternator

[Viper_ed]

Ya thats why i figured if it was tested good then it obviously wouldnt need a new one. nor would i even replace it...i would just get a new alternator

Most of the time, if the Alt is bad, the battery will go dead over night cause it will put a constant load on the battery without the car on.

If you put a digital volt meter on and with everything shut off on the car, including the interior lights, you will be able to watch the voltage constantly drop. If you notice this to be true for a period as little as 10 min., the Alt is shot!

You will also notice it will still charge the battery some, even though it's bad and the Alt WILL still test good.

[White5.0]

Most of the time, if the Alt is bad, the battery will go dead over night cause it will put a constant load on the battery without the car on.

If you put a digital volt meter on and with everything shut off on the car, including the interior lights, you will be able to watch the voltage constantly drop. If you notice this to be true for a period as little as 10 min., the Alt is shot!

You will also notice it will still charge the battery some, even though it's bad and the Alt WILL still test good.


Ill have to give that a try...it will most likely do what you said about the voltage dropping...i took it to advance today and had it tested in my car and the guy said it was just running off the battery....i sure hope the alternator is the problem and not wiring..ill have to try some more things tommorow

[White5.0]

OK...replaced starter solenoid cause it was lookin old and sh*ty, both battery cables, and wired a new plug for the alternator (apparently you get a new one with all the alternators you buy to wire in because there was a recall on them for catching fire i guess). also charged the battery back to its fullest. havent tried the voltmeter thing yet becuase i havent got around to gettin one. but my guess is that it HAS to be the alternator. i took it back to return it today and the guy tested it again to "make sure" and the machine said it was good. I argued with him for a while but did not get a new one becuase of the gay machine. now ill most likley have to drop 100 bucks for a new alternator:frown: . I am pissed...lol

[J-rod]

you running the 70a or upgraded to 130a?

[White5.0]

its a 75

[J-rod]

upgrade, get a used 130a for $40.

[DRRummel]

upgrade, get a used 130a for $40.
Sounds great. And where would we find a used 130 amp alt for 40.00? Sign me up. I was going try a Tuff Stuff unit...
http://www.tuffstuffperformance.com/products/part.asp?partid=143
But 130 amp for 40.00 sound more my speed.

[Viper_ed]

i took it back to return it today and the guy tested it again to "make sure" and the machine said it was good. I argued with him for a while but did not get a new one becuase of the gay machine. now ill most likley have to drop 100 bucks for a new alternator:frown: . I am pissed...lol

Just buy another one and tell the guy when it fixes your problem you will back to get a refund for the one that his machine says is "Good".

[White5.0]

i think the 75 was doing fine it just went bad like all alternators..just mad that i cant return it

[White5.0]

Just buy another one and tell the guy when it fixes your problem you will back to get a refund for the one that his machine says is "Good".


ya ill give it a shot

[J-rod]

Sounds great. And where would we find a used 130 amp alt for 40.00? Sign me up. I was going try a Tuff Stuff unit...
http://www.tuffstuffperformance.com/products/part.asp?partid=143
But 130 amp for 40.00 sound more my speed.


i know of 4.....i have 1 here.... :pepper:

[Viper_ed]

ya ill give it a shot

If that don't work, you're welcome to bring it out and we can put another one on that I have here and see what it does.

[White5.0]

If that don't work, you're welcome to bring it out and we can put another one on that I have here and see what it does.


i think ill just buy a new one anyway but thanks a bunch for the offer:thmbsup: ...also i was wondering if maybe my alternator is actually good but my belt isnt spinning it fast enough (by the way my tensioner and belt are old and sh*tty and i think my tensioner is about shot) because the machine says the alt is good...but when its in my car the voltmeter isnt at total rock bottom...its one notch above the bottom..maybe that could be it???

[Viper_ed]

...also i was wondering if maybe my alternator is actually good but my belt isnt spinning it fast enough (by the way my tensioner and belt are old and sh*tty and i think my tensioner is about shot) because the machine says the alt is good...but when its in my car the voltmeter isnt at total rock bottom...its one notch above the bottom..maybe that could be it???

:no:

Since you're in Pleasant Hills, go too Harbor Freight and get a cheap Digital Volt Meter. It will make the trouble shooting SO much easier!

I know you have gotten at least $50 in the past week, so you can afford $10 or so for one! :D

[White5.0]

haha harbor frieght...i forgot about that store ...ya i guess ill just have to go get one and stop procrastinating

[Viper_ed]

haha harbor frieght...i forgot about that store ...ya i guess ill just have to go get one and stop procrastinating

So did you go and get the dam thing fixed yet? :dunno:

[White5.0]

So did you go and get the dam thing fixed yet? :dunno:

not yet...i did the volt thing and it dropped like you said but i didnt get a new alternator yet. probably go tommorow since its a crappy day and its snowing

[Viper_ed]

What voltage was it charging at with the car running? Low 13 to high 12?

[White5.0]

it was in the low 13's then dropped into high 12's after a while...after that i just stopped...also after revving it up it didnt jump up at all

[Viper_ed]

it was in the low 13's then dropped into high 12's after a while...after that i just stopped...also after revving it up it didnt jump up at all

100% Bad Alt. for sure!

[White5.0]

well i sure hope so because the weirdo at advance told me that the alt was fine on the little gay machine twice...i think hes full of sh*t:jackit:

[5k#Eaton]

well i sure hope so because the weirdo at advance told me that the alt was fine on the little gay machine twice...i think hes full of sh*t:jackit:

them dummys at advanced are funyn all they ever do is bitch about stuff when I am there lol FIX THAT CAR RYAN lol

[White5.0]

them dummys at advanced are funyn all they ever do is bitch about stuff when I am there lol FIX THAT CAR RYAN lol


Ya he was being a homo:3some:

ill get it fixed... i just wish there wasnt an inch of snow on the ground already after it was 70 a couple days ago. makes me mad haha

[5k#Eaton]

isn't the car in the garage? I will accept no more excuses on this from you:wedgie: :deadhorse: hows the newb been? in the v6er

[White5.0]

isn't the car in the garage? I will accept no more excuses on this from you:wedgie: :deadhorse: hows the newb been? in the v6er


what do you mean? ya its in the garage its always in the garage. :shocker:
The newb is alright i guess..you should ask him yourself

[INSANELY CRAZY]

Advance Sucks!!!!!! There Sticker's Dont Even Stick Let Alone Having Good Parts And Somewhat Knowledgeable People...

[Viper_ed]

And Somewhat Knowledgeable People...
Ain't that the f$cking truth! If it isn't in the computer they're lost!

I had to get a Crank Position Sensor for my Mother-in-Law's Neon, the moron asked me if it had a 4, 6 or 8 cyl?????

:wtf:

[5k#Eaton]

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o317/05Boss281/koolaid.gif

dummys

[White5.0]

hahah where in the heck did you get the kool aid man

[5k#Eaton]

check your pms

[wick]

HAHAH I went to Advance last friday for a piece of brake line and a wheel cylinder for a Tahoe. Had both parts with me. The fukin tard went to measure the line, mind you it is curved like a mo-fo to go around the housing, and says OK you need a 24 inch piece. HAHAHA It was over 4 feet long. Then for the wheel cylinder, we gave him the old one and the idiot still came back with the wrong one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cant believe the type of people they hire there. Another time I bought something there and it was totally the wrong part. I called and tried to get the right one. The lady puts this guy on the phone and he starts to tell me that I am not working on the car properly, I am doing it wrong. I cant remember what it was but I was rolling on the floor when he was talking. I found out who it was on when I went down there. That moron could not unlock his own car he was so stupid.

[Pure Stock]

Ain't that the f$cking truth! If it isn't in the computer they're lost!

I had to get a Crank Position Sensor for my Mother-in-Law's Neon, the moron asked me if it had a 4, 6 or 8 cyl?????

:wtf:

There is an exception. AKA BIG DAN.

[White5.0]

Finally fixed it:pepper: :pepper: :pepper:

after much trouble shooting and testing wires i found it to be one of the fuseable links comming off of the starter solenoid...somehow it shorted out