brownmound

My car is recently only charging to about 11 or so volts, and for a while the volt needle has been ticking in pace with my turn signals. Now I notice that when I turn to the key to the on position only the Brake and Seatbelt idiot lights come on...Could this be an alternator problem?

Viperx7

iTrader: (4)

It's possible. But 1st gens are notorious for thier grounding problems, especially if you have done engine work and have unhooked things. Mine used to have a problem similiar to yours. Tried a couple of different alternators but voltage never would come up. Got to messing with hooking up wires with aligator clips on them and the voltage came right up. Went and bought a battery cable with eye bolts on each end, hooked one to the ac mounting bolt and the other to the frame and haven't had a problem since.
Take the alternator to a parts store and have them check it. It's free.
Hope this helps.

MyRxBad

Take a voltmeter and hook it up to the battery while the car is running and see how many volts you get, then test @ the alternator to see if you are getting the same voltage (should be around 13 or 14v). Use the casting of the alternator as the ground and put the + on one of the other wires on the clip in the back of the alternator (find out which one as I forget and am not in front of the car)

Jeff20B

iTrader: (13)

Would it be best to hook the + of the meter to the thick wire?

I did that (and used the casing as the ground) and I had 14.01 or something volts. Then I tested my ignitors on the B terminals and they were at 13.6 which means I have a voltage drop somewhere. Mazda used the smallest wires they could get away with (when new, but now there is corrosion here and there).