alternator help

87gtmustang · August 2nd, 2009, 02:44 AM

the battery kept going dead and i charged the battery more than twice wondering if it was the probablem. i pulled off the connections and the car died so i figured it was the alternator. i bought a brand new one and a plug and it seemed to work for 30 miles but came night as soon as the lights went on the volts said below 8 and wouldnt start back up as soon as i killed it. its not getting any charge back please help

o and its a red top optima

87gtmustang · August 2nd, 2009, 02:45 AM

and i tried a diff battery interstate and same thing

1slo5.0 · August 2nd, 2009, 11:18 AM

Pulling the cables off is not the way to tell if the alternator is bad. I know alot of people think that is an alternator test but it is not.....as you have found out.

So you have a new battery and a new alternator which means there is only one thing left in the charging system, wires. Did you replace your alternator plug with the one that came with the alternator? Did you solder the connections? That harness commonly causes charging problems and sometimes fires. I've fixed alot of charging issues on Ford cars with that style alternator with just a new connector. Besides the connector check all of your grounds. You should have a ground from the battery to the engine and from the engine to the firewall behind the engine.

JBIGBOOTSY · August 2nd, 2009, 11:26 AM

+1^

superbean · August 2nd, 2009, 02:19 PM

Most of the time it's a loose or dirty connection..

Do you have access to a volt meter? If not I would highly suggest investing in one.

Let us know what you try/find.

87gtmustang · August 2nd, 2009, 03:40 PM

my buddy had a volt metter tester last night and it was 11. something and dropping slowly. but when i first put on the new alternator it was very slowly charging for 11.89

superbean · August 2nd, 2009, 07:32 PM

the oem harness has inline fuses for the charge wires. Check for continuity to ensure juice is actually getting back to the battery

August 2nd, 2009, 02:44 AM	#1
87gtmustang Regular 1987 mustang GT Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: tx Posts: 258 iTrader: 0 reviews	alternator help the battery kept going dead and i charged the battery more than twice wondering if it was the probablem. i pulled off the connections and the car died so i figured it was the alternator. i bought a brand new one and a plug and it seemed to work for 30 miles but came night as soon as the lights went on the volts said below 8 and wouldnt start back up as soon as i killed it. its not getting any charge back please help o and its a red top optima __________________ 5.0, steeda short shifter, edelbrock intake upper and lower, bbk cold air intake, 3.73, b303 cam, 65 mm throttle body, 65mm mass air, 24 lbs injectors, h pipe, dual flows dump and more to come

August 2nd, 2009, 02:45 AM	#2
87gtmustang Regular 1987 mustang GT Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: tx Posts: 258 iTrader: 0 reviews	and i tried a diff battery interstate and same thing __________________ 5.0, steeda short shifter, edelbrock intake upper and lower, bbk cold air intake, 3.73, b303 cam, 65 mm throttle body, 65mm mass air, 24 lbs injectors, h pipe, dual flows dump and more to come

August 2nd, 2009, 11:18 AM	#3
1slo5.0 MM Ninjas! 1990 Mustang LX 9.36@143 mph Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: North Fond du Lac, Wisconsin Posts: 11,375 iTrader: 1 reviews	Pulling the cables off is not the way to tell if the alternator is bad. I know alot of people think that is an alternator test but it is not.....as you have found out. So you have a new battery and a new alternator which means there is only one thing left in the charging system, wires. Did you replace your alternator plug with the one that came with the alternator? Did you solder the connections? That harness commonly causes charging problems and sometimes fires. I've fixed alot of charging issues on Ford cars with that style alternator with just a new connector. Besides the connector check all of your grounds. You should have a ground from the battery to the engine and from the engine to the firewall behind the engine. __________________ My daily driver has 16 cylinders and 4400hp @ 1000 rpm.... ***1988 Mustang GT - Stock....almost

August 2nd, 2009, 11:26 AM	#4
JBIGBOOTSY MM Fanatic 1990 LX hatch Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Hobart Indiana Posts: 4,392 iTrader: 0 reviews	+1^ __________________ Bolt-on Abraham Lincoln Log motor. With extra wiring.

August 2nd, 2009, 02:19 PM	#5
superbean Hardcore Enthusiast 1998 Cobra 13.24@105.66 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,778 iTrader: 0 reviews	Most of the time it's a loose or dirty connection.. Do you have access to a volt meter? If not I would highly suggest investing in one. Let us know what you try/find. __________________ weeee foooord!

August 2nd, 2009, 03:40 PM	#6
87gtmustang Regular 1987 mustang GT Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: tx Posts: 258 iTrader: 0 reviews	my buddy had a volt metter tester last night and it was 11. something and dropping slowly. but when i first put on the new alternator it was very slowly charging for 11.89 __________________ 5.0, steeda short shifter, edelbrock intake upper and lower, bbk cold air intake, 3.73, b303 cam, 65 mm throttle body, 65mm mass air, 24 lbs injectors, h pipe, dual flows dump and more to come

August 2nd, 2009, 07:32 PM	#7
superbean Hardcore Enthusiast 1998 Cobra 13.24@105.66 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,778 iTrader: 0 reviews	the oem harness has inline fuses for the charge wires. Check for continuity to ensure juice is actually getting back to the battery __________________ weeee foooord!

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