I just put on some new power pulleys (both overdrive and underdrive) and now my battery is constantly going dead. It is really pissing me off. Does anyone know what is causing this? I am still new to working with electrical components on my car, but this is just a pain in my ****! Please help!

 

because of the pulleys, your alternator is not spinning fast enough at idle, or even at low rpms. since your alternator isn't spinning fast enough it can't supply enough juice to power the electronics in your car or charge the battery.

solution: remove new pulleys, reinstall OEM.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by philadd &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">because of the pulleys, your alternator is not spinning fast enough at idle, or even at low rpms. since your alternator isn't spinning fast enough it can't supply enough juice to power the electronics in your car or charge the battery.

solution: remove new pulleys, reinstall OEM.</TD></TR></TABLE>

or just remove the alt pulley....

 

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

or just remove the alt pulley....</TD></TR></TABLE>

You're kidding, right?

 

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

You're kidding, right?</TD></TR></TABLE>

remove as in replace with the stock alt pulley and leave the aftermarket a/c and powersteering pullies on, not just remove the alt pulley completely...

 

Ok, is there any other option rather than removing the pulleys? Possibly increase the idle? Change types of batterys? Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

You could also get a higher amp output alternator if you want to keep the pullies.

 

Anybody know where to get NEW higher amp alternators. I have found refurbs.

 

Call your local autoparts store

 

I can't say this for all high-output alternators, but from my experience, they don't produce any extra amps at idle, only while driving. The ones that I've put into different Accords had a slightly lower amperage at idle. But like I said, I can't say this for all high-output alternators.

Raising your idle speed, in my opinion, is not an option.

Replacing only the alt. pulley with OEM may be an option. You can always try it out and see.

In regards to changing out the battery: If the system can't produce enough amps to keep your battery charged as it is, it won't be able to keep other types charged either.

EDIT:
Many high-output alternators also use a smaller pulley to help produce power. This would obviously cancel out any gains you received by using the new pulleys.

 

This happened to me when I installed a pulley kit on my 88 Firebird. Any extended idle time in bump-n-go traffic would drain the battery. Any engine RPM under ~800 causes no charge. I didn't have the option to try different pulleys other than go back to OEM.

 

Man I love this site. You guys have been an enormous helpwith this whole pain in the *** ordeal. Don't know what I would have done without everyones help. Oh yea I do, I porbably would have adjusted the idle and changed my battery like a dumbass. Being that I'm located in the middle of nowhere East Texas, I decided to drive to Houston to visit my folks and use my dads small garage for a cooler place to do the swap back to the OEM alternator pulley (which will need another freaking belt of different lengths by the way), well while I was on my way down there I noticed that my temp gauge was a little higher than normal. Not much higher, but I know this car like the back of my hand. Well, by the time I made it to Houston the car was too hot for my comfort, so I pulled over. Low and behold my radiator had cracked. You talk about breaking my back. So a new radiator is now in place and now the pulley swap begins. Thanks again for everyones help in fixing this problem.

 

Oh yea, forget to drop a word of advice. Don't buy Oversized power pulleys! OEM is a certain size for a reason! Damnit I could kick myself, but you live and learn.