lately my volt gauge has been in the 10 volt range while driving - it used to be a solid 12. is this something to worry about? it's been there for a good 3 months and i haven't had any starting issues or anything else, i did not do any mods to the car's electrical prior to when it happened.


also - what alternator can i upgrade to to get rid of the sharp fins that like to take fingers off? My local auto parts store is kind of dumb, and that would be a little over their heads. I dislike that style anyhow - they are unsafe to me, lol.


and finally - has anyone ever re-located the alternator? I'm debating trying that. I'd like to put it down by where the power steering pump was - or where the air pump was.i imagine that looking cleaner overall. and it'd be more useful for me for a few future mods.

 

upgrading to a GSL-SE alternator is always a good bolt in choice. many guys run an S4 N/A or TII alternator as well. 10V is at the bottom line of acceptable, marginally into unacceptable. i would check the belt tension and condition and pull the alternator and battery have have each tested.

 

I've tested the battery and It's good, i didn't think of belt tension. I'll have to check that out.

I'm pretty sure the alt is not for a 7, it's got a bunch of washers on it to space it, but hell, it works. I'll upgrade it if i can't get it to push out 12 volts.

 

Might want to check with a standalone voltmeter, too; could just be you gauge is off - cal.


If it's really only putting out 10 volts, you're not charging your battery at all.

 

I was thinking if i was putting out 10 that my battery would have died pretty quickly....I wonder if i knocked something when i put the windshield wiper brain in and it took it a while to wiggle out. My lights hadn't gotten dim or anything so that's partly why i was getting confused. I'll definitely check out the gauge, though.

 

Atkins has a side mount alternator kit for ~$100.00 or so. It puts it down where the
AC used to be. I'm using the old pineapple kit on mine.

Either your gauge is foobar or your battery is not charging. Like others said, get
volt meter and start measuring things at the battery and see what the truth is.

 

do yourself a favor and replace the alternator with a correct alternator. save yourself the headache of guess work and wiring issues.