Ok,
I'm trying to get the darned bugs out of my JRSC setup.
it's a 92 cx hatch, jdm d15b motor, JRSC.
BUT, the JRSC is for a 96+ sohc,
I already talked to JR tech support and they sent me a replacement SC pulley, so the pulleys are all supposed to line up now I guess.

ANYWAYS, the problem i'm having, is that my altnernator is charging really strangely,
at idle, volts bounce around from around 14.5 to 15.7 volts, like totally erratic.
And my headlights, dash, dome lights, are all pulsing, like getting brighter/darker, also erratically.

This is my 2nd alternator too,
first one stopped working interely, but I assumed it was cuz I tightened the power
terminal too hard and broke it off(then i JB welded it back on, but I guess it wasnt a good connection). HOWEVER, right when I first got the SC working, it was doing the same irratic voltage/lights, only it went away after a while.. it stopped charging completely.

Right now it's still charging the battery but it's all erratic,
i'm afraid the alternator is overworking and might burn itself out.
What voltage is unsafe for the alternator to put out?

Any input on this subject would be appreciated.

One other bit of info, the bracket that the alternator bolts onto,
is also rubbing against the housing of the alternator(the alternator runs into it, and i can only just barely get the bolt thru it to tighten the alternator down).
Could that be a problem? I know if the alt. touches the SC itself it'll cause a short, but since the alternator bolts to the bracket anyways, I wonder if the alt housing touching it also has anything to do with it.

Anyhoo.. thanks if you're still readin

 

Any CEL's by any chance? My car is acting the same way, and i'm throwing an ELD code (which is also throwing a code for primary and secondary sensor heaters). My voltage is all over the place as well, when im driving.

 

nope zero codes.

batt light was flashing while i was driving around and was getting zero charge from the alternator, but i swapped in a different alt. and the batt light doesnt flash anymore(but voltage is wacky).

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vsm98civic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Any CEL's by any chance? My car is acting the same way, and i'm throwing an ELD code (which is also throwing a code for primary and secondary sensor heaters). My voltage is all over the place as well, when im driving.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You have a blown fuse, more than likely.

Tad - are you using underdrive pulleys? Have you checked and CLEANED all your grounds?

Something you can try: Depin the Alt-C wire - Does the voltage fluctuate?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EE_Chris &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Depin the Alt-C wire - ?</TD></TR></TABLE>

you mean the charge wire? thick white one? or one of the ones at the plug

 

Def not the thick wire....its one of the wires in the plug.

OBD2 = wht/grn - unsure of OBD1.

 

don't really wanna eff up my harness though.

 

Depin @ the ECU - that won't eff anything up.

Cutting the Alt-C wire has worked for people, I know of someone personally - so I'm not suggesting some off the wall idea for you to try.

But having your charging voltage go to 15.7v isn't exactly 'right' in my book - is this an AutoZone special or an actual OEM alternator?

 

it's an oem alternator.
funny thing is one I first put it in, and started the car up, it was a steady 14v at idle.

then i drove it for a while and the voltage started going crzy.

Would the angle of the alternator have any effect on how it outputs voltage? It's possible that the alt bracket(JR) i have on there isn't right and the alternator is angled up more than it's meant to be.
(don't think this is it though cuz with the stock bracket it lets you angle it however you want to get proper belt tension).

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tad &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Would the angle of the alternator have any effect on how it outputs voltage?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Nope. But the Alt-C wire has got a lot to do with alternator output/charge rate which is why I'm asking to just depin it for a second and see if things stabilize.

You have to break the loop somewhere....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EE_Chris &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Nope. But the Alt-C wire has got a lot to do with alternator output/charge rate which is why I'm asking to just depin it for a second and see if things stabilize.

You have to break the loop somewhere....

</TD></TR></TABLE>

ok, cool, well that means that i probly won't need to get a new bracket from JR then.
I'll go over my grounds and try depinning that wire.
although I should note that all the wiring was working fine before the SC kit went in.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tad &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">although I should note that all the wiring was working fine before the SC kit went in.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Kinda forgot that intially, ehh?

Well, skip the wire for now then. Is it possible, through whatever pulleys you're using, that the alternator is now turning slower than before the charger install?

Can you tighten the belt too tight to the point of alternator failure - I dunno, just something I'm throwing out there.

How long did this 2nd OEM alternator last before **** got funky?

But seriously, make sure ALL your grounds are clean and tight, both in the engine bay and near the ECU.

 

hmm, well I actually can't tighten the belt down to where i'd like it at the moment.
I wouldn't imagine that it's actually SLIPPING off the alternator though?
the tensioner pulley if I tighten too far down it'll hit the alt(yeh.. them pullies sure are close!!) and jam.
I'm going to try adding some washers in there which should give me more clearance though.

also all the grounds were good and proper before the sc went in too,
only one that was messed with at all during the install was the one on the thermo housing( i put in a new thermostat) but its on there good and secure now.

about how long the alt lasted. hard to say.
basically, I got it in, turned on the car, saw steady voltage at the battery,
and I drove about 10-15miles, car was fine.. but it was daytime.
the trip home was night, so I had my lights on and such, and I noticed em flickering right as I started my car.

the previous alternator was iffy though, cuz of the busted/jb welded power terminal.

 

ok i'm really ******* stumped now.

I just filed down a buncha stuff, and added washers, etc.
Got the belt good and tight.
and the problem still persists.

now my battery light is starting to come on.
it flashes on/off occasionally, actually totally randomly, sometimes it'll just stay off, sometimes it'll blink, etc.

Wierd thing is that again, at a cold start, I checked the volts and they were fine. then I drove off and after a few moments things started going haywire.

Double checked all the grounds I could find.
they're on there tight.

 

up

 

do you happen to have the right size alt?? maybe the jrsc isnt working cause its the wrong year

 

**** if i know, i think my only hope is JR tech support at this point.

they're helpful and know alot about this sort of thing.

cuz really, I dont see any reason for it not to work.

 

good luck

 

thnx

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EE_Chris &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You have a blown fuse, more than likely.

Tad - are you using underdrive pulleys? Have you checked and CLEANED all your grounds?

Something you can try: Depin the Alt-C wire - Does the voltage fluctuate?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, my alternator fuse (#15 underdash fuse box) is blown, but it keeps blowing every time I replace it... So i'm thinking my ELD or my alternator is bad or something..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vsm98civic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yeah, my alternator fuse (#15 underdash fuse box) is blown, but it keeps blowing every time I replace it... So i'm thinking my ELD or my alternator is bad or something..</TD></TR></TABLE>

well the 1st alternator(1st of 3 heh) i had with the SC hit the SC causing a short
and blowing my battery fuse.

So it takes some bad electrical current to blow a fuse...
soooo maybe you have a short somewhere?
try and find an open wire and/or a wire touching something it shouldnt.

just remembered I havent checked my underdash fusebox for anything iff yet!