Page 1 of 1
alternator or battery?
Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 8:48 pm
by waandy
cars bein playin up lately, have to roll start it, will charge at bout 13 volts while driving with high beam and driving lights, but as soon as i stop and drop to idle it drops to just under 12v, turn lights off, back up to bout 13v.
and the battery dies real quick, as soon as it goes under 12, no struggeling just carks it. please help me
Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 8:52 pm
by chunks
Sounds like a crook alternator mate, that charge rate is too low.
charging
Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 10:28 pm
by RRover85
Battery will also do it if battery voltage is down... Alternator is charging so try charging your battery on a charger and not relying on your alternator to bring your battery back up cause it will never happen... little charger a couple of days and a big charger over night... give it a good charge on a charger and then see what happens from there
Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 7:12 am
by viperguy
just been through this..ended up being almost dead alternator. got mine recoed all good now.
Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 7:40 am
by HeathGQ
sounds like a bit of both.
As suggested, give the battery a good charge with a big charger adn have the alternator checked by an auto eleccy.
From sitting around and going flat - found a charge leak from the stereo, so disconnected the stereo and charged the battery. is in need of replacement but its doing the job at the moment.
Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 8:43 am
by chimpboy
It's the alternator.
Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 6:20 pm
by waandy
alternator was checked 2day, all good. bought a newq battery so wel see how that goes
Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 6:44 pm
by money_killer
alt should be charging at about 14.4v while car is running if not then ur alt is not good.
Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 7:17 pm
by coxy321
money_killer wrote:alt should be charging at about 14.4v while car is running if not then ur alt is not good.
x2. Max of 14.7v on charge if memory serves me correctly. My alternator is due for brushes soon - taking a bit longer to excite these days.
Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 9:13 pm
by chunks
Mate that charge rate you said sounds too low to me, I'd be very surprised if its not the alternator.
battery
Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 9:55 pm
by RRover85
chimpboy wrote:It's the alternator.
Big call buddy... over the internet 1800dialanautoelec diagnosis?
I would be leaning towards battery... but thats just me...
Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 9:57 pm
by RRover85
money_killer wrote:alt should be charging at about 14.4v while car is running if not then ur alt is not good.
14.4v is a border line high... most cars with a bit of age wont reach 14v due to voltage drop in plugs etc... 13.5v is acceptable, obviously higher the better, but even with a new alternator you probably wont reach 14.4v
alternator
Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 10:01 pm
by RRover85
If you get stuck waandy give me a yell and i could have a look for you anyway after work or something as im in Traralgon...
Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 10:08 pm
by waandy
cheers mate.
im in callignee
mavs all go now, just the battery.
charges close to between13 and 14 v now so am wraped. and it starts 2.
Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 10:37 pm
by clm434
RRover85 wrote:money_killer wrote:alt should be charging at about 14.4v while car is running if not then ur alt is not good.
14.4v is a border line high... most cars with a bit of age wont reach 14v due to voltage drop in plugs etc... 13.5v is acceptable, obviously higher the better, but even with a new alternator you probably wont reach 14.4v
I'm currently managing with a brand new alternator, 14.3v normally (just a/c, stereo, uhf, normal day driving stuff) and between 13.7v and 14.2v with all lights, spots, a/c going.
alternators + mud = bad mmmk
