Anyone know of a good place to take an alternator for testing off the car in the Beaverton/Hillsboro area?

Having issues with the car dying - new battery wasn't the issue, so it is probably the alternator.

Yes, I have checked charging voltage, it is 14 volts, but that isn't really a good test.

 

just loosen the battery's negative terminal, start the car, let it idle and then remove the negative terminal off the battery post and wrap it with a towel so it doesnt ground on anything. if it dies, then you have a bad alternator.

 

I think I will pass on that method.

Suddenly disconnecting power creates spikes, and I don't want to risk sending a voltage spike to the ECU and ignition amp.

 

any schucks or baxters will test it for you for free

 

Thanks, Baxter's it is.

 

another thing inspect your wiring, make sure a wire to the connector hasnt broken off, on my fc i had a wire break a few inches from the connector and it would cause charging problems..

also are u sure there isnt a current draw on your car after u shut it off? or does the car run out of juice whil your driving it?

 

not sure if you have a battery exchange up there, but thats where i take my parts if they are still on car

 

Before taking the alternator off and getting it tested, I thought it good to do a little more troubleshooting.

Checking the belts I found that they are tight, but when I touched the pulley I got a little oil on my fingers. Ah, the light goes on.

The oil catch can overflowed at the Medford Enduro 3 weeks ago, and that's when this problem first started.

I put a socket wrench on the alternator pulley, and I could turn it with 2 fingers. The pulley turned, but the belt did not move.

So I pulled the belts and dumped them in a bucket of warm soapy water, washed them and then let them soak.

Warm soapy water and then some brake cleaner was used to clean the pulleys.

Put it all back together, started it and it ran fine for 15 minutes. Shut it down and was able to restart it.

I knew I had a bunch of cleanup to do after the catch can overflow, but had not considered the effects on the charging system.

At least I didn't buy a new alternator.