Re: [DML] update to my battery light/low charge problem

[Les Huckins <jhuckins@xxxx>]

One of my caveats is to always carry a spare alternator...who listens right? Any
alternator can fail, at any time, be ready. Whenever a problem with the charging
system occurs, the most likely suspect is the alternator. Connections and
slipping belts are secondary but it never hurts to check before you get the new
alternator.

Soma576@xxxx wrote:

> Hey all,
>
> to recap, my problem is this:
>
> for the last month or so, every now and then my battery light would flicker
> for a few seconds and then go out again, usually accompanied by a brief drop
> in voltage on my gauge, to about 10 volts or so, then it would go back up on
> it's own. this would especially happen during high RPM's, but seemed to also
> be somewhat random. then this last week, things got ugly. on the way home
> from work ( a 10 mile drive) my battery light was constantly flickering and
> my voltage was down around 8-10 for almost the entire drive home. i have a
> 130 amp alternator installed by the previous owner a little over a year ago,
> with new belts this spring by myself.
>
> anyway, i posted earlier this week on what i should inspect. i have so far
> inspected my battery connections - they are tight. i checked the front
> ground strap - i cleaned it and reattached it. i checked the rear trailing
> arm ground strap - it is still epoxied over so i decided to leave well enough
> alone. i tightened my belt (it had a little slack in it) and started the
> car. it's still only running at 8-10 volts.
>
> now what do i do? do i have to bite the bullet and order a new alternator?
> it's hard to believe that this one hardly lasted longer than a year!!
>
> which DMC vendor offered the 130-amp alternator? i checked through a few
> sites tonight but no one had this alternator listed. what is the track
> record of it?? should i reduce down to the 105-amp alternator, or should i
> get the much cheaper 150 amp alternator? and is the voltage regulator
> serviceable without rebuilding the entire alternator?
>
> any advice would be greatly appreciated about now because this is quite a
> show-stopper!
>
> Andy
>
> Before posting messages or replies, see the posting policy rules at:
> www.dmcnews.com/Admin/rules.html
>
> To address comments privately to the moderating team, please address:
> moderator@xxxx
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/