Charging problems
 

Right now I'm having a weird charging problem. I bought a new optima yellow top and alternator thinking that they were the cause but now I'm not too sure. So at idle, the multimeter reads from 12.5-13.3V and doesn't change. When you give it a couple revs or hold the idle to 2k or more the voltage drops to maybe 12.2-12.5V. If you give it time to sit at idle it will eventually goes back to 12.5-13.3V. What I found weird is that I don't have problems with the car while driving. I've spent some nights driving around for like 2+ hours and it would start up quick in between the drive, even though every time I leave I check with my multimeter and it still reads about 12.6V. I went to have my charging system tested at Kragen and it read that there was a problem and that there is a low charge. Obviously... I think there is a slow drain on the battery when I let it sit, but I want to take care of that after I know for sure that the battery is charging properly.

So I'm curious as to whether I connected the s5 alternator wrong. I have the "S" leading to the (+) battery post, the "B" to the main underdash fuse (which one of the battery (+) cables leads to), and the "L" to another spot on the under dash fuse box. The reason I did this was because I am thinking that the "S" connection to the battery is the same as having the "S" connect with the "B" then run the "B" to the battery. Also I was thinking that the "B" connection to the main fuse would be the same as connecting it to the battery since the battery also connects to the main fuse. Or is this wrong? Should I be having the "S" connect to the "B" and run the "B" to just the battery or both the battery and main fuse?

Please help me fix this. I'm tired of worring whether the car will start up if I go somewhere else for awhile.

Whoever answers you question is going to want to know what series car and what series alternator in in the car.

If it's wired up right then these problems are almost always alternator or battery. There's not much else in the system except wire. If you had a slow drain your car would die overnight; it wouldn't be enough to make a noticeable difference while driving. Even if you just replaced your alternator last week this'll happen, b/c those things are notorious for that. In fact if you just bought an alternator then that's more reason to suspect that the alt is the cause. It sounds like Kragen found a problem with your charging not the battery, so that'd mean it's the alternator. It doesn't hurt to have them check the battery anyway 'cuz that's free too, though it sounds like they already did. Also be sure to fully charge your battery beforehand and get proper belt tension (not too tight or loose) when installing the alt.

You can ask around for a good source of alternators, but even then you might run into problems. Usually you just have to try again, and maybe again after that until you get one that lasts. Hold on to the warranty.