Now What?? (Electrical)

[breezd]

Ok, so my alternator went out on me. It was only puttin out 10volts when it was dying.

I pulled it out, brought it in and had it rebuilt... just put it back in today...

Now I'm gettin 12.15 volts at the battery. If i'm not mistaken, it should be putting out 14 volts with the car running?

The [+ -] (battery) light is still on.

Maxi-fuse is fine...


Car stats:
98 Contour SE
2.5 V6
112k miles

Any help is appreciated...

Thanks, Dan

 

[eepals]

What's the condition of your battery? When testing alternator output always start with a fully charged battery, 12.6 volts.

 

[CSVT#49]

Ok, so my alternator went out on me. It was only puttin out 10volts when it was dying.

I pulled it out, brought it in and had it rebuilt... just put it back in today...

Now I'm gettin 12.15 volts at the battery. If i'm not mistaken, it should be putting out 14 volts with the car running?

The [+ -] (battery) light is still on.

Maxi-fuse is fine...


Car stats:
98 Contour SE
2.5 V6
112k miles

Any help is appreciated...

Thanks, Dan

Yes it should be 14V or more. But as eepals stated you need to have a fully charged battery. Since your alternator was going out chances are your battery isn't up to par. Charge the battery then recheck the system.

 

[Tony2005]

From M&M how-to.
http://www.contour.org/ceg-vb/showthread.php?t=3535

In addition, check to make sure Fuse 5 (foglights) is not broken. How is the condition of the foglights?

 

[breezd]

From M&M how-to.
http://www.contour.org/ceg-vb/showthread.php?t=3535

In addition, check to make sure Fuse5 (foglights) is not broken. How is the condition of the foglights?

The fog lights have not worked since I bought the car a couple months ago. The previous owner said he didn't know what was wrong with the fogs. I actually did try changing the fuse for the fogs, and the fuse sat really loose in the spot. So I'm assuming that it is broken... if it is, does the whole fuse box need replacing? How does this relate to my problem?

We did replace the battery today also. The charging light was still on... but we did run the car for about 45 min and it did not die and the voltage still was in the 12 range.

 

[Tony2005]

.... I actually did try changing the fuse for the fogs, and the fuse sat really loose in the spot. So I'm assuming that it is broken... if it is, does the whole fuse box need replacing? How does this relate to my problem?
...

No, don't replace the fuse box (unless it is rusted or melted beyond repair). Just push the ends of the clip so that Fuse 5 is snug tight. In addition, make sure the fog lights connections are not the issue (loose lamp holder shorting the circuit). On 1995 to 1997 models (and some 1998 too), the alternator/battery charging circuit goes through Fuse 5. If Fuse 5 is missing or broken, the alternator will not be able to charge the battery.

Edit. Link to Fuse 5 thread.
http://www.contour.org/ubbthreads/s...er=1292230&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=all&vc=1

 

[breezd]

... On 1995 to 1997 models (and some 1998 too), the alternator/battery charging circuit goes through Fuse 5. If Fuse 5 is missing or broken, the alternator will not be able to charge the battery.

Edit. Link to Fuse 5 thread.
http://www.contour.org/ubbthreads/s...er=1292230&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=all&vc=1...

Wow... i find this interesting... the day that my car broke down, my cigarette lighter was not working. So I figured, I'll pull the fuse from the fogs since they dont work and they are the same size fuse...

So my own stupid mistake is what left me stranded on the side of a road for 4 hours without a cell phone in the freezing cold weather?? ugh...