this is really starting to **** me off, I just replaced the battery and alternator last week, and the car was fine for a while... until tonight. I went to go get milk, and the car wouldn't start... so I jumped it left it to idle, and went inside. after a couple of minutes I noticed that It had stopped idling( no loud *** noise outside). so I jumped it again and went about 2 miles with no problems, pumped gas with the car on because I was still a little worried that it would'nt start again, got the milk and went over to the pizza place across the street from the gas station to talk to a friend.

I turned the car off there because I figured that i cloud just jump it with his car if I had to... but it started ok when I left. I got about a mile from where i was and the stereo turned off and the lights started to dim, so I turned them off, turned the dash lights down, and turned my tach light off. the car died while i was moving so I clutch started it, it did this several times and would sputter and die like I had no gas(but I had just filled it up)

the tach was jumpin all over but the rpm's were constant, temp was fine and no leaks or anything...
I know that my engine is fine, and that it's the electrical system( its given me problems before, but not like this)

I need your help, I have finals this week!!!!!!!

 

bump

 

I really need some help here, any suggetions are better than none!!!!!!!

 

It sounds like your alternator was a bad rebuild. It could be giving out AC current. But try this first.....

Check your battery ground. Is it fastend to the car and battery real good?

Maybe you have a open positive circut. Check the fusable link. Just follow the positive wire from the alternator all the way to the battery. The link could have popped!

There aren't too many components to the charging system.

Battery, Alternator, Fusable link.

Good luck!

 

How is it possible for an alternator to produce AC current?

airbrush1, if the aforementioned items check good, it may be time to run another wire from the alternator charging pole to the battery.

Jarrett

 

thanks, I'll check all that and get back to you!

 

I believe some cars have the fusible link and some don't. Sounds like you may have a short somewhere. Try removing all of the fuses except for the absolute necessary ones. If you find that the charging system works after running with only the minimum fuses, put one back in at a time until you run into the problem again.

On a side note. Make sure you check the plug on the back of the alternator real good. It might have melted (like mine did) and it can cause a ton of trouble.

 

All alternators create AC current, the rectifier changes that AC current into DC current. Before I did anything I'd check all of the connections and wires. Look for anything too loose, worn, cracked, etc.

Good luck, just remember that it's not always the parts that go wrong, sometimes it's just as simple as a weak wire that's seen too many battles...it's simply tired.

 

All alternators produce AC current and the rectifier converts the AC to DC.

When the rectifier goes bad AC current is no longer converted.

 

Many of us have already replaced the 10ga wire from the alternator to the battery. Looks like maybe it's your turn..

 

Learn something new every day! Thanks!

Jarrett