Charging but not the battery !

scigarzz · Post by **scigarzz** » 07 Jul 2013, 19:45

Ok, I got a charging problem, I am getting 13.5 volts with a wire coming directly off the alternator, however, when I ck the volts coming off the battery, it is only 12.4.(meaning: letting the volts come thru the original wiring harness and not from the alternator itself)
I have checked both ground cables and they are both tight.
I have NO cel on, the car runs fine but I can't figure out why I'm only getting 12.4 at the battery ( when I turn on the a/c and the hi beams it goes down to 11.

I did just change the tranny and it all started when I put it back together. I did have the dash VERY loose but I did not remove it. ( the dash was probably about 1-2 inches away from the windshield)
when I did finish the tranny job i took it around the block to make sure everything shifted ok, It did, and thats when i noticed a mild electrical burn smell when I came back into the driveway( the dash was still loose)
Since it shifted ok, I put the dash back together and ran it back and forth to work for about 3-4 days and that's when the battery started to die and I started to have problems with the alternator( or so I thought) like I said it runs and shifts fine, no cel on.
i have gone thru a used alternator and today just bought a new reman alternator and I have the same problem,
soooooooo if I melted some wires underneath the dash somewhere , my question is , where would I look first. I'm prob. Going to take the dash of sometime this week and see what I can see
Anybody got any ideas ??????

Post by **precopster** » 08 Jul 2013, 02:43

You have internal corrosion in at LEAST one of your cables in the engine bay. Most likely is the positive cable from battery which junctions to the B+ alternator cable.

Next likely is the earth cable to gearbox or engine (not certain where exactly it fits)

Split the sheathing on the positive cable with a Stanley blade and look for green/white powdery powder which is copper corroding.

It's easy enough to replace these cables if you buy the terminals and heavy duty cable then ask an auto electrician to crimp them for you.

ThatBitch_MacGuyver · Post by **ThatBitch_MacGuyver** » 08 Jul 2013, 06:39

Take the cables off the battery and use some baking soda and a tooth brush to clean the terminals and in the clamps of the battery posts. Put the cables back on the battery and clamp them tight. Use some grease or corrosion inhibitor spray to coat the terminals

scigarzz · Post by **scigarzz** » 08 Jul 2013, 18:02

Well, I checked the cables and there is no visible sign of corrosion, the batt terminals are very clean . I think it may be where I smelled that electrical burn smell when I had the dash loose. I don't want to take it off but I really don't have a choice. when I do get it off, the battery light, switch, connection, whatever u want to call it will be my first stop when I get it all laid out. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE IT COULD BE !!!!!!!!!! Wish me luck I'm going in !!!!!

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 08 Jul 2013, 20:38

Electrical problems are not always visible.
Get a meter out and search "Volt Drop Test".
And - are you sure you reconnected all the
big battery and ground cables in the engine
bay correctly?

scigarzz · Post by **scigarzz** » 09 Jul 2013, 04:54

yes, all the cables are where they should be and tight, i have the dash out but i don't see anything yet.
is there some type of tool that could measure some kind of short ?

Post by **Ben850** » 09 Jul 2013, 07:25

scigarzz wrote:yes, all he cables are where they should be and tight, i have the dash out but i don't see anything yet.
is there some type of tool that could measure some kind of short ?

Just curious, when you say the dash is out, you mean the dash pad. Correct?

Did the smell of burnt electronics originate in the cabin, or in the engine compartment?

scigarzz · Post by **scigarzz** » 09 Jul 2013, 12:30

yes the whole dash is out, and the burnt smell came from inside the cabin. i looked last nite at the dash ( its on the coffee table) and i can't see anything burnt or melted together. so i'm still looking

difflock54 · Post by **difflock54** » 09 Jul 2013, 17:47

Could the smell be from your voltage regulator cooking ??
The smell may be permeating thru your firewall giving the impression its from your dash area.

scigarzz · Post by **scigarzz** » 09 Jul 2013, 19:10

I don't think it could be from the regulator ..... It is inside the alternator, I'm thinking it could be something that got pinched or squeezed together when I had the dash loose, The search continues.......