06-18-2006, 09:22 PM
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#1
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AF Newbie
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 38
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Did I buy a bad alternaor?
So I thought my alternator was bad and replaced yesterday. Charged the battery and everything seemed good for a few rides. Went to get gas today and the car would start, go a boost, drove it a few blocks put a charger on it again.
A friend said to start the car and then pull the negative battery cable, he said if the car dies immediatly you have a bad alternator. Is this true? I tried it and the car did die immediatly.
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06-18-2006, 09:23 PM
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#2
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AF Newbie
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 38
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Re: Did I buy a bad alternaor?
By the way, it is a 1995 3.1 litre. Oh I get the same reading on the battery power with a voltemeter whether the car is running or not???
What now?
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06-19-2006, 06:39 AM
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#3
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Pontiac Guy
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Penns Creek, Pennsylvania
Posts: 5,834
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Re: Did I buy a bad alternaor?
It is possible for a new alternator to be bad but unlikely. The first thing you need to do is to recheck the connection to the alternator. Make sure it is clean and that the connection is good. Also make sure the battery is fully charged. If you have a volt meter check the voltage at the battery when the car is running. It should be at least 13.5 volts. If not then the alternator is probably not working correctly. Remember, an alternator will only maintain a battery, it will not recharge it.
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06-19-2006, 09:37 AM
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#4
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AF Newbie
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 38
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Re: Did I buy a bad alternaor?
Okay, I will recharge the battery on a trickle over night, and try again.
But I used my voltimeter and the reading stayed consistent on the battery whether the car was running or not. It did this the old alternator as well.
Are there any fuseible links I need to worry about or anything else.
I did have burnt out signal light but I don't see how that could affect it?
Could bad grounds affect be causing this?
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06-19-2006, 11:33 AM
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#5
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Pontiac Guy
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Penns Creek, Pennsylvania
Posts: 5,834
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Re: Did I buy a bad alternaor?
Your best bet would be to check all grounds as well as the battery cables. Internal corrosion in the battery cables accounts for a lot of problems with charging issues. Also make sure the terminals are clean and tight. I suspect that a bad ground or cable may be your entire problem.
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06-19-2006, 11:35 AM
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#6
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AF Newbie
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 38
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Re: Did I buy a bad alternaor?
Okay great,
Where to start though?
How do I check the battery cables for internal corrosion? How many grounds are there and where are they located?
I have the Haynes manual but am not good at reading the diagrams.
Is there a way to test if a car is grounded by using a multimeter?
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06-19-2006, 01:41 PM
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#7
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AF Newbie
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 38
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Re: Did I buy a bad alternaor?
Okay I am moron.
You know the wiring harness on the bottom side of the alternator? I forgot to plug it in. I just plugged it in. I think everything will be fine now.
I had the power wire done but not the wire harness. Would that make the difference?
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06-19-2006, 02:04 PM
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#8
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AF Regular
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Bad Axe, Michigan
Posts: 287
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Re: Did I buy a bad alternaor?
Quote:
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Originally Posted by AspDotNetGuy
Okay I am moron.
Would that make the difference?
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yes!!!
__________________
'03 Pontiac Montana Luxury 3400 SFI
'99 chevrolet 1500 Z71 4x4 5.7 Vortec
'95 Grand Am GT 3100 SFI
'88 IROC 5.7 TPI ( 48,000 original miles )
"ALWAYS"......  full synthetic!!!
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06-19-2006, 02:10 PM
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#9
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AF Newbie
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 38
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Re: Did I buy a bad alternaor?
WooFreakinHoo. My car is going to be okay and i fixed it myself... can't beat that.
..err hoperfully 
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06-19-2006, 02:36 PM
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#10
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AF Regular
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Bad Axe, Michigan
Posts: 287
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Re: Did I buy a bad alternaor?
Quote:
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Originally Posted by AspDotNetGuy
WooFreakinHoo. My car is going to be okay and i fixed it myself... can't beat that.
..err hoperfully |
LOL
__________________
'03 Pontiac Montana Luxury 3400 SFI
'99 chevrolet 1500 Z71 4x4 5.7 Vortec
'95 Grand Am GT 3100 SFI
'88 IROC 5.7 TPI ( 48,000 original miles )
"ALWAYS"...... full synthetic!!!
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06-19-2006, 07:17 PM
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#11
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Pontiac Guy
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Penns Creek, Pennsylvania
Posts: 5,834
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Re: Did I buy a bad alternaor?
Crap happens! Glad you got it fixed.
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06-19-2006, 07:22 PM
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#12
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out saving the world
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Yourtown, Indiana
Posts: 10,061
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Re: Did I buy a bad alternaor?
didnt we discuss this the other day.......... ?
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06-19-2006, 07:56 PM
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#13
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out saving the world
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Yourtown, Indiana
Posts: 10,061
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Re: Did I buy a bad alternaor?
Would like to add,
If you are charging the battery in the car, I'd remove those battery cables!
Also when jumping the battery, you should unplug that connector from the alternator or at least ground the running vehicle to something metal under the hood, other than the battery.
IT can toast the alternators insides which would make it inoperable and void your warrnty. Just my 
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