Slow Egg

i have a battery/ alternator problem.

problems im having:
-car wont start, dead battery all the time
-when jumped started will only hold the charge for max 5 mins
-when driving on jump start, lights dim and cd player shut off, and car shuts off
-when the car is off, the batt is at full 14 amps and when i click the key for the accesories it drops to 5 amps

some other things:
-the battery is full charged,new battery
-no system or amp drainage items.
-checked pretty much all the fuses
-the altenator belt is snugg no squeaks or anything,and the battery terminals are tight

now what is my problem????? i need as many suggestions as i can get,thanks

IWearMyKswiss

you need a new alternator

ARIZONA

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 2.0 EK &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you need a new alternator </TD></TR></TABLE>

Slow Egg

now 2nd question:

where would the best place to buy a new or refurbrished altenator?

IWearMyKswiss

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by egnj &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">now 2nd question:

where would the best place to buy a new or refurbrished altenator? </TD></TR></TABLE>

autozone or any auto parts store ,..usually 100 bucks with core exchange

vtekthis

first, before you go taking out the alternator, check to make sure its the alternator, do this by jump starting it and taking off the neg batt terminal, if the car dies immediatly it is the alternator if not youve got another problem. also check to see if the green plug on the back side of the alternator is in snug, and the wire on top is nice and snug! my friend had the same problem and i went throught all the trouble of taking it out, just to find the green plug vibrated its way out!!! pissed me off

Zanpakuro

That just happened to me. I bought a new battery, then found out the screw on the alternator was loose.

Slow Egg

yea.i just got in from a long nigh in the garage, i already took out the altenator, but i remember the green plug being firm and a it was really in. i also remeber taking the neg terminal off and it dies instantly, so what route should i take now?

The Internet Tough Guy

ummm don't you disconnect the positive terminal?

IWearMyKswiss

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jwn7 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ummm don't you disconnect the positive terminal?</TD></TR></TABLE>

i always thought it was the negative terminal

vtekthis

you take of the neg terminal, always worked for me if the batt is not grounded there is no possible way for the current to flow

Slow Egg

say if i do put a new alternator in,what should i do after installation for proper charging and whatnot? ya know.so i do everything right

Nameless RB26

If you've taken the alternator off, then the best thing you can do before you buy a new one is to stop by Schucks and have them test it for FREE. Don't spend money untill you know exactly what the problem is.

vtekthis

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Nameless EJ6 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If you've taken the alternator off, then the best thing you can do before you buy a new one is to stop by Schucks and have them test it for FREE. Don't spend money untill you know exactly what the problem is.</TD></TR></TABLE>

try to do this, for your charging ques, just make sure belt is on good all connections are made, and start her up and let her run!! best to just drive around for a while.

Slow Egg

thanks, everyone. alot of help. and btw ..whats SCHUCKS?<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Nameless EJ6 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If you've taken the alternator off, then the best thing you can do before you buy a new one is to stop by Schucks and have them test it for FREE. Don't spend money untill you know exactly what the problem is.</TD></TR></TABLE>

93CivicSI

You need a new alternator - try to avoid the crap at autozone...

upgraded

removing either the neg or pos terminal should have the same effect. It is safer however to remove the neg seeing as it doesn't flow any current like the pos side does. this way you don't have to worry about sparks and arching and straight out shocking the crap out of yourself or anything else for that matter. my 2 cents.

JDMs1eeper

cold temptures can do this also. happened to me twice. The batterys molicules get fucked up in COLD weather. try what the guy "vtecthis" said about the altinator first. the go forward from there. good luck

JDMs1eeper

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jwn7 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ummm don't you disconnect the positive terminal?</TD></TR></TABLE>

without the ground it wont have any current. Electronics depend on a ground to work. Id explain it but most schools should be teaching about that in highschool

JimmyAtlantis

Before blowing your money on a new alternator, clean all of your connections that have to do w/ that and the battery. Trust me. I almost blew my money on a new alternator for new reason. The problem was: DIRTY CONNECTIONS

The Internet Tough Guy

yeah i just read somewhere to test your alternator you pull the positive terminal off the battery.

Slow Egg

wheres the cheapest and best place to get a new altenator?

JimmyAtlantis

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by egnj &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">wheres the cheapest and best place to get a new altenator?</TD></TR></TABLE>

It's called take the dead one out and take it to the rebuilder. That's all you're getting anyway when you get a "new" one.

eghonda

http://www.car-part.com/

got mine from a yard for 55 bucks, but you can get a dead one rebuilt for cheaper

yellow_jacket

You should NEVER disconnect the battery while the car is running. While it may not make a difference if the alt. is bad, it can make a huge difference if the alt is good. Disconnecting the battery causes voltage spikes that can and will fry electronics. It will usually fry either the ecu or the alternator(more commonly the alternator). You can keep doing this if you want, but sooner or later you will fry something.