New Alternator Battery Belt and no charge

nickdeary · Post by **nickdeary** » 18 May 2011, 12:40

Hi Guys,

Here is my issue. Battery light went on then SRS then Tracs....etc. Check engine light came on, checked it and sure it enough the message was low voltage. So I put in a new alternator power steering pump belt and new starter because they were all getting close to dead. I charged the battery and drove the car , same thing happened. I then took the old alternator to autozone to get tested and they said it was fine. I also ohmed the battery terminals with the battery out of the car and it was about 100 ohms, telling me there is no short. All through this process I was testing the voltage on the car and it was under voltage (about 12 give or take) I'm so confused please help!

As I write this article I'm thinking that I didnt tighten the positive terminal bolt on the starter and thats causing not enough Amps to get carried through the wire to charge the batt? I know this bolt is hand tight but not wrench tight.

Another thing I was told by the autozone guy is that alternator has a voltage regulator which could be dead, but I thought it was included in the alternator

Post by **jblackburn** » 18 May 2011, 12:46

Try the bolt - this does sound like a bad connection. If not, it may be time to start looking for bad ground connections on the negative side or replacing positive battery cables. They are known to flake out with age.

Post by **VCA** » 18 May 2011, 15:22

Does the battery light still turn on with the key in II? Also could be lack of voltage to the exciter windings (burned out battery light could do that).

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 18 May 2011, 16:01

Have you checked the cables?

Post by **Pauloil** » 18 May 2011, 16:27

search "voltage drop" and read how to test the cables I bet your starter cable from batt. to starter is bad, so even with new alt, the current is not getting to new batt.

http://www.aa1car.com/library/voltage_drop_testing.htm

nickdeary · Post by **nickdeary** » 18 May 2011, 18:13

I checked the voltage between the alternator big + terminal and batt + terminal, and the voltage is around .5 volts. When I turn the key to the II position the battery light flashes. Now another piece to the puzzle is the when I have pull the negative terminal off the batt while running, sometimes the car will die sometimes it will run. I also tightened the nut that holds the positive cable to the starter.

An interesting point in all this bs is that I actually replaced the starter 2 days before this shit all started even though I drove the car with everything on around the city for at least an hour, it didnt die until I was on the highway on my way to work. When I replaced the starter I didnt put the back of the mounting bracket back on because it was so bent, however I dont think that has the purpose of grounding because the front of the starter is bolted to the other side of the block and i think it was just to help support the starter.

Thanks I really appretiate the help

Another thing....When I pulled the B+ wire off the alternator and tested the voltage between that terminal and the negative ground the voltage was still around 12

Post by **Pauloil** » 18 May 2011, 20:23

don't ever take cable off running car
again, quite possible your cables are shot.

nickdeary · Post by **nickdeary** » 18 May 2011, 20:31

dont you think its ironic that I changed the starter 2 days before. I'm thinking that there might have been 2 cables going to the starter and I only have one on there....

Post by **Oly_850** » 18 May 2011, 21:39

Is your blue ground cable remorsessly clean and solidly connected at both ends?

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 19 May 2011, 00:59

Try to jiggle the key while it is position II and see if things change. The electrical portion of the ignition switch failing can cause all of your problems and, in Volvo terms, it is very easy and cheap to change.

...Lee