Alternator works wen it wants to only??
09-13-07, 01:24 PM
#1
i love my rice!!!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Anaheim, CA
Posts: 685
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Alternator works wen it wants to only??
ok, so my alternator only charges when it feels like it... there'll be times when im driving and its at 14.5 V... and sometimes its at 11.5-12.3 V... i hav an s4 chassis and running an S5 alternator... first i had the two wires ( S and L ) hooked up to the S4's R and L... but it kept draining, after some searching i found that the S should be hooked up to a constant source, so i redid that... so far no draining, but still that charging issue. had the alt. tested by autozone and they said its good... any ideas?
09-13-07, 01:51 PM
#3
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Try and get hold of the engine electrical section of the FSM.
This has a plan of attack in it, showing step by step, voltage, resistance checks... which will lead you to the cause of the problem.
Might be a dodgy regulator...
This has a plan of attack in it, showing step by step, voltage, resistance checks... which will lead you to the cause of the problem.
Might be a dodgy regulator...
09-13-07, 04:18 PM
#5
i love my rice!!!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Anaheim, CA
Posts: 685
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
the voltage readings are really just random... just got an FD dual belt pully so ima sum up some money and just get an FD alt. hopefully its just a bad alt.... LOL
09-13-07, 08:09 PM
#7
Intermittent electrical failure. It happened to be good when they tested it.
Check your belt tension first (see FSM or Haynes manual) and have Autozone test your battery too (free), but I don't think either of those is the cause. After those tests get a new alternator. Don't get an Autozone/Kragen/Pep Boys/etc. alt. Try a small shop, reference from a mechanic, "new" alternator, OEM, etc. If you're forced to get an alt from a big shop, here's what will happen: You will often not be allowed to get a refund (replacement only). But still save your warranty info and receipt. Maybe you'll get a good alt the first time, maybe not. If not, your alts will keep lasting a while and then dying on you until you get a good one. Meanwhile you just keep returning them and getting replacements. I made the mistake of buying an alt based on its lifetime warranty. Fortunately I managed to get a refund after two alts blew in a row. Current alt is from a small shop based on a mechanic's reference (owner rebuilds them himself). It cost less and it seems to be lasting.
Oh, and Denso remans are supposed good but I haven't seen one for an RX-7. But if Autozone has Densos for the RX-7, that may save you some trouble. Or you could go through the buy, works for a bit, blow, replace under warranty, works for a bit, blow, replace under warranty, etc. hassle. I think I was just unlucky when I got two bad ones in a row. Well, 3, if you count the P.O.'s. Though that one did last 8,000 miles.
Check your belt tension first (see FSM or Haynes manual) and have Autozone test your battery too (free), but I don't think either of those is the cause. After those tests get a new alternator. Don't get an Autozone/Kragen/Pep Boys/etc. alt. Try a small shop, reference from a mechanic, "new" alternator, OEM, etc. If you're forced to get an alt from a big shop, here's what will happen: You will often not be allowed to get a refund (replacement only). But still save your warranty info and receipt. Maybe you'll get a good alt the first time, maybe not. If not, your alts will keep lasting a while and then dying on you until you get a good one. Meanwhile you just keep returning them and getting replacements. I made the mistake of buying an alt based on its lifetime warranty. Fortunately I managed to get a refund after two alts blew in a row. Current alt is from a small shop based on a mechanic's reference (owner rebuilds them himself). It cost less and it seems to be lasting.
Oh, and Denso remans are supposed good but I haven't seen one for an RX-7. But if Autozone has Densos for the RX-7, that may save you some trouble. Or you could go through the buy, works for a bit, blow, replace under warranty, works for a bit, blow, replace under warranty, etc. hassle. I think I was just unlucky when I got two bad ones in a row. Well, 3, if you count the P.O.'s. Though that one did last 8,000 miles.
Last edited by ericgrau; 09-13-07 at 08:14 PM.
Trending Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
The Shaolin
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
9
09-14-15 07:50 PM
