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2nd H.O. Alternator SHOT...what's with that?? HELP #1406211 10/07/05 11:17 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 271 Eagan, MN S slingersvt OP CEG\'er
OP slingersvt CEG\'er S Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 271 Eagan, MN	What's up guys? Well I upgraded to PA-Performances H.O. Alternator last fall because I put in a pretty big sound system. Upon my return from SZ05 it started acting up. I ended up getting it replaced by PA-Perf under warranty in June. I did the install myself and followed the awesome How-To Ray put together and problems were solved. Well, the other day my battery light came on and I noticed my Autometer voltage gauge was reading about 11.5. Sometimes it would charge and the VG would hit just above 14 like it's supposed to then drop to around 12.5 (like it should I believe). Then sometimes it wouldn't work at all and the VG would sit around 10.5. This morning it wouldn't charge.....then this afternoon it did...but only above 4000RPM's then it would drop to 10.5....then I left work and it would only jump to 14 when I would hit 5000...then it stopped and I barely made it home. The rpm gauge stopped working like usually, wipers would turn off/on sporadically and the gas light would turn off/on. Upon pulling into the drive way something started beeping....sound came from glove box.....must have been the CPU or something. I spoke with PA earlier and Rick@PA said that they would refund me the $$ and take the alternator back. He said that I've got some electrical short or something that could be causing a spike in the voltage thus frying the regulator in the alternator....he said this can be caused by a one time spike or from several spikes over a period of time. With all this being said.....what do you guys think/recommend, etc. Later. slingersvt 98 T-Red CSVT

Re: 2nd H.O. Alternator SHOT...what's with that?? HELP #1406212 10/08/05 01:35 AM
Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,456 F FavoriteMystaque Hard-core CEG\'er
FavoriteMystaque Hard-core CEG\'er F Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,456	I imagine you checked the mega-fuse?

Re: 2nd H.O. Alternator SHOT...what's with that?? HELP #1406213 10/08/05 02:07 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 271 Eagan, MN S slingersvt OP CEG\'er
OP slingersvt CEG\'er S Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 271 Eagan, MN	have not had time as of yet......to pissed off to even think about working on the car!! HAHAHA any other imput would be greatly appreciated. 98 T-Red CSVT

Re: 2nd H.O. Alternator SHOT...what's with that?? #1406214 10/08/05 02:35 AM
Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,693 Thousand Oaks, California, USA B Big Jim_dup1 Hard-core CEG'er
Big Jim_dup1 Hard-core CEG'er B Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,693 Thousand Oaks, California, USA	Originally posted by FavoriteMystaque: I imagine you checked the mega-fuse? Fuses don't fix themselves. It is either blown or it isn't. I more suspect that it is a quality issue with the alternators. It would not hurt to have a good hard look at the battery though, since a flakey battery can sometimes cause really strange things. If you are truly convinced that the alternator is good, even try substituting a know good battery from another car for a few days. Jim Johnson 98 SVT 03 Escape Limited

Re: 2nd H.O. Alternator SHOT...what's with that?? #1406215 10/08/05 03:28 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 271 Eagan, MN S slingersvt OP CEG\'er
OP slingersvt CEG\'er S Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 271 Eagan, MN	big jim, good idea on the battery. comment - I took the car to checkers auto at a time when it didn't appear to be charging. they tested the battery and he said there was no juice(charge) coming from the alternator.....doesn't this eliminate the possibilty of the battery being flaky though???? In hindsight the battery has been run down to nothing before.....like the last time my alternator went caput....but after the new alternator it kept the charge. it's also yellow top if that makes any difference. It was in the car when I bought it last fall..... thoughts?? as for my sound system.....when I'm really pounding the subs the voltage gauge will bounce with the tunes due to the extra voltage drawing from the battery/alternator to the two amps I'm running......is this a bad sign as well??? 98 T-Red CSVT

Re: 2nd H.O. Alternator SHOT...what's with that?? #1406216 10/08/05 06:15 AM
Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,693 Thousand Oaks, California, USA B Big Jim_dup1 Hard-core CEG'er
Big Jim_dup1 Hard-core CEG'er B Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,693 Thousand Oaks, California, USA	Originally posted by slingersvt: big jim, good idea on the battery. comment - I took the car to checkers auto at a time when it didn't appear to be charging. they tested the battery and he said there was no juice(charge) coming from the alternator.....doesn't this eliminate the possibilty of the battery being flaky though???? No. Sometimes a flakey battery will not allow an alternator to function properly. I'm not saying the battery is your problem, but especially when a charging problem is eluding diagnosis, the battery should be looked at more deeply. When I worked as a technician, it was rare, but a few times I had charging system problems that defied normal diagnosis and as a last resort I tried a battery and the problem was solved. It is always proper diagnosis to qualify a battery before attempting to test the alternator. Sometimes a battery seems to be OK when it is not. Jim Johnson 98 SVT 03 Escape Limited

Re: 2nd H.O. Alternator SHOT...what's with that?? #1406217 10/16/05 02:43 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 271 Eagan, MN S slingersvt OP CEG\'er
OP slingersvt CEG\'er S Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 271 Eagan, MN	well jim, i took the battery out and ran over to checkers and they tested it and it was good.....fully charged and everything. what could be doing this to my alternators?? could my sterio system be the problem..i.e. bad ground?? or do i need to get some cap. to keep the stereo from surging the power?? need some help guys...i don't want to replace the alternator every 6 months..... where should I start ts'ing the electrical system for bad wires/bad grounds, etc. thanks. slingersvt 98 T-Red CSVT

Re: 2nd H.O. Alternator SHOT...what's with that?? #1406218 10/16/05 03:24 AM
Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 5,345 Virginia, USA T Tony2005 Addicted CEG\'er
Tony2005 Addicted CEG\'er T Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 5,345 Virginia, USA	Originally posted by slingersvt: ..could my sterio system be the problem..i.e. bad ground?? or do i need to get some cap. to keep the stereo from surging the power?? ... where should I start ts'ing the electrical system for bad wires/bad grounds, etc. You suspect the stereo. Remove the fuse (or disconnect the stereo) for a few days and see if it makes a difference. "Always do the cheap and easy ones first." 1996 V6 ATX 96K miles

Re: 2nd H.O. Alternator SHOT...what's with that?? #1406219 10/16/05 03:28 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 271 Eagan, MN S slingersvt OP CEG\'er
OP slingersvt CEG\'er S Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 271 Eagan, MN	little late now because my alternator won't charge the battery...... thoughts? btw, thanks for your help thus far 98 T-Red CSVT

Re: 2nd H.O. Alternator SHOT...what's with that?? #1406220 10/16/05 03:40 AM
Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 5,345 Virginia, USA T Tony2005 Addicted CEG\'er
Tony2005 Addicted CEG\'er T Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 5,345 Virginia, USA	Originally posted by slingersvt: little late now because my alternator won't charge the battery...... thoughts? Try the suggestions after putting in a new alternator. "Always do the cheap and easy ones first." 1996 V6 ATX 96K miles

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