thecouga

So I installed a new battery and alternator a month ago, and everything was working fine. Three weeks ago, I noticed that my voltage meter started to drop from 14 to 12 at stoplights when my car was idling. The thing is, my car would start up fine. The battery was holding charge. I tested my battery, and it read 12.5 volts with the ignition off. So the alternator was recharging the battery.

Tonight it started to get really bad. It was at 11 volts maximum (while revving the engine, and at stoplights at idle, the voltage gauge was reading 9 volts. It was idling fine, although the headlights were dim. It finally died right outside my house, and I had to push-parallel park it for the night. It won't start now. When I turn the ignition, I simply hear a racket/clicking. The dome lights still go on, but they are a bit dim.

I don't know much about the electrical system in these cars. I had the alternator and battery "checked" at AutoZone where I bought both of them. They said they were both fine. The battery voltage was reading fine even though the battery light was on in my car and the gauge said 11.5 volts. So my guess is that the alternator is chaging the battery, but the rest of the car isn't getting any juice.

Edit: Two days ago it rained, and when the car was still wet, the problem totally went away for 10 minutes. My voltage gauge read 14 and everything was fine.

Anyone have any suggestions?

4Driver4

Autozone alternator FTL. Buy a good alternator, charge battery, drive car.

Allroady DungBeetle

Autozone Alt's don't have the best rep by far. Lifetime warranty by chance? You need a new one.

thecouga

I haven't had a chance to test it, yet, but I bet even now with my car dead, the battery has charge. I've tested it before when it gets like this. And this has been going on for three weeks, and I never have a problem starting up the car.

Would a bad voltage regulator do this? If it's the alternator brushes, it wouldn't be charging the battery at all. The problem seems to be supplying power to the rest of the car. Otherwise, maybe there is a loose wire somewhere after the battery?

I do have a lifetime warranty on this alternator though.

thecouga

A little bit of moisture seemed to fix the problem completely a few days ago. After it rained, my voltage was fine and holding steady at 14 volts like normal. So this may be evidence of a loose connection or a bad wire somewhere. But where?

JAFO

if they are ok then take the battery out and have it charged and check it's voltage. it should be 13.8v out of the car. i've had a battery cell short intermittently dropping the volts to around 11v. also check the condition of the battery negative cable mine broke internally and cooked my battery.