Alternator Messup Question

Ok. I had some WIERD things hapen to the 200 last night.

I have a NEW 70amp $160 alternator and a new battery in the car. Here is what happened.

I left work at 9:15. Everything seemed "normal".

At about 9:25 everything geos dim REALLY fast and the car goes from like 14V to the minimum 8V and i have no lights or anything. "Scarry at night"

I yanked the alternator and battery at took it to a 24hr AUtoZone. They tested the alternator and said it was ok, and tested the battery and said it was dead. They charged it while I waited.

SO this morning i get the car towed to school and put the crap back into the car.

Car starts up. Yes.

Problem : Car will not go over 12V marker on the gauge cluster. Im afraid that we have an electrical leak somewhere draining the battery. I dont have my voltmeter so I cant check the battery and stuff. Any ideas on what wont let my alternator charge past 12V.

mine used to show 14 till it slowly started to die... then when i replaced it with one from an 87 (mines an 85 sold as an 86) it reads just over 12 volts but like . 5 volts over it.. but it NEVER drops lower.... thats all i can tell ya :dontknow: :???:

Check the fuseable link at the battery where the white charging wire attaches to the posative battery cable. That is the only place I can think of where a problem could be. The alternator may be charging, but not getting to the battery.

would this sound right if the belt was not tight? like it wasnt able to spin faster than X amount before it slipped.

Yeah but he had just replaced the alt so I figure he had it tensioned properly.

i think there might be some grease behind the bolt allowing it to slip on that little hinge rail thingy. Ill check it out tomorrow and report.

Duh...he meaning you. Anyhow.......unless you actually heard the belt squeeling/slipping I doubt that's the case.

What is the condition of the charging wire connection at the possitive battery cable?

Yeh I got this same problem now.....its like all those times of playing the stereo with the engine off has finally bitten me in the ass....my car would NOT start tonight cause the battery power would not go past 9V!!!!! I then kickstarted it....and when i gave it some gas, it went up to 15V....WTF?!

Under 1,000rpm the light indicators flicker like mad. Everytime i turn on and off the car, the battery drops volts each time.

Whats going on?

I'm thinking of getting my battery charged 2moro.....but wots going on?

I woulkd check all the wires that lead to the alternator and battery, it sounds like something could be seriously corroded...other than that your battery could be bad....

Hmmm....ok...how much would a re-wiring thingy cost?

My car did the same thing :mad: My alternator wouldnt charge my battery, and every time i tested it, it tested fine. i went through 3 alternators (and 5 batteries) before i said f#$ck it!! i will take it to an electrician. so i took it over there and i (what a small world) knew the electrician...that helps. anyways he told me that my alternators internal voltage regulator kept blowing thats why my car would'nt charge, and that the reason that my regulator kept blowing is because there was a short in my ignition harness. thats why my car kept killing batteries even when the car was off, my batteries wouldnt charge, and i was only showing 12 volts all the time. DAMN CAR!!! sorry that was a very very big thorn in my side for quite some time...but know the car is fixed and its running fine 14volts and all!! hopefully this helps yous guys!

If you need a new alternator PM me Yellow, i have one that has was replaced last winter and is in good condition.