replaced alt... what wrong now?

[HueyZ34]

Ok, i had my alt go out on me, i fixed the problem and took off driving the same night. i thought everything was ok. we i got on it and got to about 5000-5500 and my battery light came on. I have heard that if that happens it means your alt is going out. i went and had it tested and everything came out ok. anyone have any ideas on what else it could be? anything will help.
Mitchell

[Anonymous]

Battery is bad maybe?

[HueyZ34]

i had the battery tested when i found out that my alt went out and it was pushing about 12.6 or 7 volts... so i don't know about that. i will change it and let you know. also if the belt was slipping would that make the battery light come on? if the alt isn't being spun quick enough?

[Anonymous]

I doubt the belt would slip enough for it to cause a low voltage condition. Have you checked your connections (grounds, etc.)?

[SappySE107]

I recall someone having this problem when their connection to the alt wasn't tight enough.

[HueyZ34]

Do you think that i could try and tighten the ground on the back of the alt without taking the whole thing out again? would i have to drop the rear motor mounts..? and will that give me enough space to get a ratchet or wrench back there? Thanks for helping.
Mitchell

[SappySE107]

I dont think its going to be the ground, but rather the power wire. With an auto trans, you aren't looking at an easy project.

[HueyZ34]

ok i'm somewhat lost on the parts of the engine thati can't see or haven't fixed(yet). so where would the power wire be found? on the back of the alt or is that the ground?

[SappySE107]

The red wire is the power wire. Its the only connection other is the 4 wire (i think) connector that just plugs into the alt.

[jmgtp]

Do you think that i could try and tighten the ground on the back of the alt without taking the whole thing out again? would i have to drop the rear motor mounts..? and will that give me enough space to get a ratchet or wrench back there? Thanks for helping.
Mitchell

Is your car a 5 speed?? If so you can get to the power wire (red one on back of the alt) pretty easily from beneath the car. I dunno if you would be able to get at it as easily if you got that chunky auto gettin in the way all over the place. Although I dont know if that aluminum heat shield would be in the way, mine just decided to break off one day while I was driving and hasnt been on there since so it isnt a problem for me. I dont think it did much as it broke when the car was on the original alt (bout 85k at the time) and it still went for another 15-20k.

Maybe the connection was dirty? Perhaps loosen it a bit first and shoot it up with some brake cleaner then tighten it down.

[HueyZ34]

no my car is an auto and i do have my heat shield still on the car? will i have to drop the rear motor mounts? or will i be able reach it without taking the rear motor mounts off? Thanks
Mitchell

[jmgtp]

no my car is an auto and i do have my heat shield still on the car? will i have to drop the rear motor mounts? or will i be able reach it without taking the rear motor mounts off? Thanks
Mitchell

I really dont know with the auto, I have the getrag. I've heard that the auto is more difficult to access the alt. Especially the rear bolt and I suppose the wire hookup as it is in the rear of the alt as well.

[HueyZ34]

i have already replace the alt i put two of the three bolts back the two in the front and i didn't put the back one back in because it was too hard to get to. i know where the wire is but i just don't want to take the alt off again. any ideas?
Mitchell

[HueyZ34]

Ben, on the back of the alt was the nut and a locking washer. If I didn?t take off the locking washer before I put the ground wire on, would that make it have those symptoms? I didn?t think about that until last night when I was going to bed, and still thinking about it. Then I remembered that the washer was on there too and I didn?t take it off before I put the ground back on. Thanks
Mitchell

[shawnsz34]

Sounds to me like your going to have to pull the ALT again.
Theres just no way around it.
One thing, Why would you drop your motor mount?
It's not nessacary to get to the ALT. Ive done this job myself twice. Once cause it was bad. And once because the Tranny shop left the Generator splash sheild off..
But if they checked it in the car and it was alright check your starter connection's.
It may be you have a bad harness. Or the solenoid on the starter is bad.
I would defiantly leave taking the ALT out as a last resort.