battery charge problem

I still have a problem with charging my battery to it's potential. I replaced battery cables, alternator, and plug that attaches to the alternator. Still boggled. Does anyone have some suggestions of where I can look for this problem. Thanks .

Smallride

It could be "Parasitic Load". Something in the car is drawing constant current keeping the battery low. It could be that your battery is too big for the alternator, too. Most fieros came with tiny 400-500 cca batteries.

Prior to replacing the battery, it had a 500 cca's battert. It still did it. I have a new battery with 650 cca. I noticed that when I use the turn signals, the battery indicator flucuates or when I apply brakes. Voltage drops even more when the heater/defroster is on. I did find a short with the light switch (orange and black wire were shorted together. But, that did not make a difference. Could the steering column ignition switch cause this? That is where the Hanes manual refers me too using the wiring diagrams.

Smallride

It almost sounds like the alternator isn't working right. Being new, it should work but then again they can be bad right off the shelf. Most places that sell and install batteries will do a free alternator check, you might want to take advantage of that. Besides a bad alternator, the output wire leading from the alternator to the underhood junction block, or it's related connections, could be bad. A high resistance in the small wires (those you replaced the plug on) that feed the alternator field would cause undercharging too. Barring that, well, you've got alot of testing to do. If it's a short it could be anywhere.

Cool, thanks I ill keep at it.

Small ride