My alternator went out and was only putting 1amp out. I replaced it with a new one and was charging at around 15+ volts. Lasted one month and my battery light came one and now my alternator isn't working again! Any suggestions what is causing it to blow out the alternator?
Steve
2007-02-19 09:31:07 · 8 answers · asked by stevelwhite001656 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Car Makes ➔ Ford
a short in the electrical or a short in the battery or your drawing to many amps electric plow stereo, winch.?
2007-02-19 09:34:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
the charging voltage should not be more the 14.8 volts.Since the voltage regulatoe is internal to the alternator, it is quite likely that you have a bad ground strap somewhere. Use a voltmeter and with the engin running, check for any voltage over .1 volt between the engine block and the negative battery terminal.
Another more common problem that can cause this is a glazed belt. sometimes a glazed belt will not make any niose, but will slip just enough to keep the battery light from coming on. I had an old Jimmy Van that did that.. I went through 3 alternators without thinking to replace the belt. As the battery aged, is stretched a bit and started slipping more and the light came on. When I replaced the alternator, I tightened the belt up, and it worked for a while, Each time the battery would slowly run down since it wasn't being recharged by the alternator. and eventually the belt would stretch enough for the battery light to light up. After the third replacement alternator, the belt broke, and after replacing it the problem went away.
2007-02-23 03:33:15 · answer #2 · answered by Niklaus Pfirsig 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you checked and your battery is fully charged, your alternator is fine. :) The three answers you've received have all correctly identified the source of the clicking sound you're hearing, but it's unlikely that the relay itself is at fault. 99% of the time, the problem is caused because the relay isn't getting the power it needs from the battery, which is usually because the battery is dead. When the battery is found to be fully charged, this condition is usually caused by a bad battery cable connection. It could be at either of the battery posts, at the relay itself, at the starter, or where the negative cable attaches to either the frame or the engine. A seriously corroded battery cable can cause this as well. The first thing you should do is check and make sure the cables are connected tightly to the battery. If they aren't loose, go ahead and take them off and clean the posts and the clamps and see if that helps. If not, follow the cables and make sure the other ends are tightly secured to a clean location. If either of the cables themselves look green, or are caked with corrosion, they need to be replaced. Unfortunately, that also means that one or more of the seals on the battery case where the posts enter it is cracked. That can only be fixed by replacing the battery. Failure to do so will only result in your new cables corroding just like the old ones, only quicker. If the acid that is escaping from the cracked seal reaches any metal in the engine compartment, you'll be in for a lifetime of monthly cleaning sessions with baking soda and water, and a scrub brush. :) Good luck.
2016-05-24 17:38:11 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This occured to me once on a friends Mustang. As a favor I asked him "Go to the autopart store and get me one that goes with your vehicle". So she did.
Every month or 2, the sucker will burn out. One the 5th try the guy remember me, and there was a full lifetime warranty that suddenly he didn't want to honor. He sort of hinted that he thought I was doing something illegal. I sort of hinted, I have relatives which are lawyers.
Case in point, the alternator my friend asked WAS for a 5.0L V8, for some odd reason, ever since the first one, they gave her one for the V6, so of course it wouldn't last long. So after that was resolved, there's been no issues since.
So case in point, make sure they are giving you the right part, and then I would check on the charging sensor and make sure that's making contact correctly.
2007-02-19 10:39:20 · answer #4 · answered by A A 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
sometimes you have to consider where you bought that replacement alternator -- was it new or rebuilt? If alternators are rebuilt, then only the failing part or parts are replaced, and anything else inside that is currently functioning at an acceptable level are not changed. Buy better quality.
2007-02-19 09:57:30 · answer #5 · answered by turbo 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes the alt harness melt and gets a bad connection. Trying moving it aroung to see if thats the problem. They have a replacement for it at O'relly for for alternators
2007-02-19 09:53:35 · answer #6 · answered by Luis R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds you may have a run of bad luck. The first one sounds like it "just went bad" but the second probably had a bad regulator. The voltage should be about 13.8, NOT 15+. Return it, tell them the regulator was bad in it, and it may have cooked your battery too.
2007-02-19 09:39:37 · answer #7 · answered by Jason h 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are probably buying cheap alternators from part houses.
2007-02-19 10:49:22 · answer #8 · answered by kayef57 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋