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Alright I just want to get this started by saying that I am pretty novice at electrical system in a car but I know my way around a multimeter and how to use this community with people who have had similar issues. I am prone to rookie mistakes and some of this might make you veterans cringe out there and for that I apologize.
I want to give as much information as I can to help you all help me narrow down this annoying issue. I will try to paraphrase as much as possible but as we know with electrical issues it could be complicated. I have pictures and pictures are worth a thousand words so hopefully those will help.
In hindsight, I was driving around at night on a little cruise around the town enjoying the top-down nightlife. Radio on, headlights on and dashlights full. This put a nice load on the battery and at the time I should of realized that my ancient alternator was probably on its way out the door- which it was. Next morning was fun as you would expect, I jumped it, alternator wouldn't charge the battery and for some reason it looked like the wires leading from the alternator to the fusebox were a little fried. I replaced them as well as got the alternator rebuilt. Now comes the fun after driving it for a bit it died again. I always keep a multimeter with me and should honestly get a holster for it because it is always in use. Here are my findings at idle with no load:
Battery sits at 12.14v and the alternator positive post sits around 9v. (Have not checked it when running at higher RPM) This is transfered up the wires to a connector that I had to improvise (see photos, you can judge) then up into the fuse box. Now the issue is that the battery is still not being charged or there is a short thats drawing to much current. My dad said it's a possibility that when my alternator sustained damage the voltage regulator did... the only thing that might make that statement true is that the first fuse showed a voltage that did not pass through to the other side. This fuse is labelled courtesy lights and horn relay. (SPECIAL THANKS TO THE MAN- PAPAJAM- FOR THE DIAGRAM.)
so give me some wonderful two cents and try and help my diagnose why my battery is suffering some hard times. I would like to try to determine wether its the Voltage Regulator, Alternator, Shortage (through wiring) or maybe even the Fuse. I respect all advice and feedback given I know this is was a long read so if you made it through god bless you. Hopefully you can help me target this issue and narrow it down through this information and pictures.
Photos:
Alternator Positive Post
Connection Between Alternator Wire to Fusebox
Volt Reg. Connection and Cables
Inside the Volt Reg (smells funny like electrical fire)
Thanks sincerely,
MatteoS
I want to give as much information as I can to help you all help me narrow down this annoying issue. I will try to paraphrase as much as possible but as we know with electrical issues it could be complicated. I have pictures and pictures are worth a thousand words so hopefully those will help.
In hindsight, I was driving around at night on a little cruise around the town enjoying the top-down nightlife. Radio on, headlights on and dashlights full. This put a nice load on the battery and at the time I should of realized that my ancient alternator was probably on its way out the door- which it was. Next morning was fun as you would expect, I jumped it, alternator wouldn't charge the battery and for some reason it looked like the wires leading from the alternator to the fusebox were a little fried. I replaced them as well as got the alternator rebuilt. Now comes the fun after driving it for a bit it died again. I always keep a multimeter with me and should honestly get a holster for it because it is always in use. Here are my findings at idle with no load:
Battery sits at 12.14v and the alternator positive post sits around 9v. (Have not checked it when running at higher RPM) This is transfered up the wires to a connector that I had to improvise (see photos, you can judge) then up into the fuse box. Now the issue is that the battery is still not being charged or there is a short thats drawing to much current. My dad said it's a possibility that when my alternator sustained damage the voltage regulator did... the only thing that might make that statement true is that the first fuse showed a voltage that did not pass through to the other side. This fuse is labelled courtesy lights and horn relay. (SPECIAL THANKS TO THE MAN- PAPAJAM- FOR THE DIAGRAM.)
so give me some wonderful two cents and try and help my diagnose why my battery is suffering some hard times. I would like to try to determine wether its the Voltage Regulator, Alternator, Shortage (through wiring) or maybe even the Fuse. I respect all advice and feedback given I know this is was a long read so if you made it through god bless you. Hopefully you can help me target this issue and narrow it down through this information and pictures.
Photos:
Alternator Positive Post
Connection Between Alternator Wire to Fusebox
Volt Reg. Connection and Cables
Inside the Volt Reg (smells funny like electrical fire)
Thanks sincerely,
MatteoS
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