Alternator not charging - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

Jersyboyy · 04-28-2008, 02:15 PM

Hey guys Im pretty new to the board but im hoping someone can help me out. I just got my car fixed, after sitting for 6 months with blown headgaskets. The car keeps dieing now. I figured maybe after 6 months something happened to the alt, so i just put a new one in and wired it just like it was before and im still not getting a charge to the battery!

WildBillyT · 04-28-2008, 02:26 PM

Are you sure it's electric you are losing and not fuel? The battery is dead when the car dies?

sweetbmxrider · 04-28-2008, 03:38 PM

how old is the battery? you should have a shop load test it if you think that's whats up. could be a bad alternator. do you have to jump it to get er goin again? could be fuel delivery or ignition...what exactly is happening??

426 Wedge · 04-29-2008, 06:18 AM

How do you know your not getting a charge to the battery? BTW I dont think a bad alt. will cause the car to "keep dieing". Check fuel delivery. Is it dieing at idle or while driving?

WildBillyT · 04-29-2008, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 426 Wedge

How do you know your not getting a charge to the battery? BTW I dont think a bad alt. will cause the car to "keep dieing". Check fuel delivery. Is it dieing at idle or while driving?

Not sure I'm hearing you right, but if your alternator is bad your car will only run as long as the battery will keep it on. If you keep having to charge the battery than the alternator is probably the culprit.

chrisfrom nj · 04-29-2008, 08:42 AM

theres a fuse under the dash check the fuse i think its a 20 amp fuse that happened to me in my camaro

Untamed · 04-29-2008, 09:28 AM

If the battery sat for several months without regular starts or a trickle charge, then the battery itself may be bad. If you're able to start it, it may not be electrical at all, but bad fuel / filter / pump.

Have the battery and alternator tested at any autozone - they do it for free. If both check out, then try to restart the car, klicking the key over slowly until you hear the faint buzz of the fuel pump engaging. If the car starts but then dies, it may be bad gas or a bad filter. Change the filter (if you can) then dump some dry gas into the tank. Keep your foot on the pedal and run the car at 1500 RPMs for a few minutes then let off and see if it idles ok.

NastyEllEssWon · 05-19-2008, 02:47 PM

just stick a voltmeter on the batter while the car is running. if the alternator is bad it will be charging less than 13.8-14.3 volts. battery should be at 12-12.6
with the car off. i would check some grounds if its a new alternator and the battery is good. im not sure what kind of car you have but if your car doesnt have a serpentine setup up front you might want to check the belt deflection as well could be loose and slipping around the pulleys causing the alt to charge less.

edit::check all power wires to alt....and battery. also make sure the connections to the terminals on all electrical connectors arent crudded up and nasty causing bad current.