My battery isn't charging and I know its good. How would I test to see if the alternator was working properly? I tried starting the car then removing the positive terminal of the battery and the car died instantly. I have a feeling it isn't a problem with the alternator but with the wiriring because we just moved the battery to the trunk. I have the power wire from the fuse box going to the starter along with the battery cable. This should work shouldn't it?

 

just use a DVOM and measure charging system voltage at the alternator output terminal and a good ground. You should have over 14 volts. Test the same thing at the battery terminals in the trunk, it shouldn't have dropped more than .1 volts. If there is a problem check voltage drop across all your connections.

 

Where exactly is the alternator output terminal?
I tested the voltage at the battery with the car running and it was low 12.somthing and it would get lower and lower when I turned on headlights and accesories.

 

right on the alternator. There is the three pin connector and then there is the threaded post with the terminal held on with a nut. This is the output terminal.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nevin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I tested the voltage at the battery with the car running and it was low 12.somthing and it would get lower and lower when I turned on headlights and accesories. </TD></TR></TABLE>
That right there makes it sound like a problem with the alternator. But verify it by checking at the alternator itself.

If it's good at the alternator, then start looking for bad connections somewhere in your battery cables to the back.

 

Allright thanks guys im going to take it off and get it tested. I just didnt want to do somthing unnesacary if it was somthing simple like wiring.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nevin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Allright thanks guys im going to take it off and get it tested. I just didnt want to do somthing unnesacary if it was somthing simple like wiring.</TD></TR></TABLE>
It still might be wiring. Check the voltage AT THE ALTERNATOR when the engine's running. If it's up around 14 or so then you should be looking at wiring...

 

Alternator was bad, perfect timing hah.