So at a stop light today my car just died. I was able to get it to a mechanic and he tried to charge the battery but it still wouldnt start up although sometimes it would crank. So after an electrical test it turned out to be my alternator is dead. We hooked up a new battery to it and it started up but the volt meter read 0. I guess ill have to get a new one but I was just wondering if there is anything I could check to see if the problem is repairable, or do I have no choice but to shell out some cash for a new/used one?

 

Just go ahead and get a new one, if its a series 5 car then you can drop in a FD alt and only have to change the pulley out for one of teh fc's size, a healthy upgrade for a stressed electrical system.

 

If he charged the battery and it still didn't start, it might be the battery. Did you check to see if it actually charged? Just because it was on a charger doesn't mean it actually charged.

After you put in a new battery, did you check the output from the alternator?

 

IF the engine is running and the volt gauge reads ZERO, then rap on the plastic face of the instrument cluster. It's just a bad connection on the meter board.

This ASSUMES that you checked the fuses in the interior and the METER fuse while you were at it. Although they are probably good since you did NOT mention any other gauges not working.

 

The only way it woudl read Zero volts is if the guage was disconnected or like above. Bad connection which a tap to the cluster usually fixes.

With the battery connected you should atleast have some voltage.
If it won't start then it could be battery or alternator(from draining the battery instead of alternator)
If it wont stay running then it's most likely a bad Alt and it's drained the battery dead trying to stay running.

You can go ghetto and hit up a parts yard for an alternator but a rebuilt one from Checker/Schucks/etc would go a lot longer before you have troubles again.

 

i hooked up a new battery

it starts, it runs

volt meter still reads 0

i will try replacing the meter fuse and beating on the instrument cluster

ill let you know what happens..

thanks for all the help

 

If it was the meter fuse none of your gauges would work.