Electrical Problem

[ShanO`]

Gday all,

I am having a bit of a problem with my car.

About 6 weeks ago I put a new battery in the car cos the original one from japan died. I had been driving around for a few weeks and everything was fine. Over the last week I have noticed the electrics in the car getting weaker, windows winding up slower, stereo cutting out etc...

This morning i got out my multimeter to check the voltage on the battery and found that the voltage was the same whether the car was running or not. I then removed one of the terminals too see if the car would stall and confirm that there was a problem with the alternator. When I removed the terminals the idle speed of the car picked to where it would normally be and when taking a measurement from the leads, the voltage had returned to where it should be and increased/decreased with revs as per normal.

I then turned my attention to the battery. I put my battery into my parents car and started it, I checked the voltage of the battery and everything was working as it should, my battery is fine.

I then put my parents battery into my car to see if there was any difference. No difference, voltage was still the same whether the car was running or not.

Does this mean that my alternator is on its way out, only putting out just enough power to keep my car running, or could it be something else?

Edited January 19, 2008 by ShanO`

[Duncan]

yeah your alternator is dead in some way. when it is charging it will give over 13v, if you only get 12 you are running on battery power. start the car and disconnect the battery, see if it stalls (not enough voltage to run coils and computer)

easiest fix is to remove alternator and exchange it, a good auto electrical place should be able to find somehting that fits (rb30/vl commodore should work)

[infamous_t]

Does your car 'squeak' on start up in morning? might be loose belt on alternator pulley (which is either re-tension or replace)

I don't find it a coincidence that one battery died and the other one is 'under stress'.

[n15m0]

Yup, sounds like ur alternator is on its way out...

Mine died few mths back on the 34...don't ignore the symptoms like I did...car completely shut down one day...lucky it wasn't on a busy street...

Get it replaced or reco-ed by an auto elec quick smart!