1987 Turbo Alternator Problems

[GO DAWG GO]

Hey guys, Anything about a 87 turbo that could cause charging issues...


Couple of months ago driving the turbo to the Lake Arrowhead Timeline. I noticed the tach jump erratically and the engine died on the 210 freeway. I had her towed home and did some investigating. No battery power. Charged the battery and started her up. Alternator light remained off but no power to the battery. Ordered a rebuilt alternator on ebay and installed it. Started her up again and got 13.6 volts at the battery and thought everything was fine. 30 minutes later, the idiot alternator light comes on so I immediately drove her back home. battery was not charging again. Pulled the alternator out and sent it back. I removed the original regulator out of the original alternator and the brushes where toast (Worn Out). I bought a new Huco regulator and installed the alternator back in the car and wallaaaH. 13.7-9 volts at the battery. Drove the car for an hour and the battery died again..towed the car back home cursing...The alternator company sent me a message staing the alternator was good. So they sent me back another.
Pulled the original out and test the wiring. The blue field wire coming from the idiot light was hot with ignition on. Charged the battery from the B+ red cable in the fan housing looking for voltage drop...nothing appreciable.

Got the new alternator and installed it along with a volt gage. started it up~13.8 volts ..drove the car for an hour and OH shlitz...volt gage reading less tha 12V drove home and wanted to sell the son of a Blich..

4 friggen installs and 4 friggen failures...

This is getting old!

Could it be my communist made battery shorting? Battery charges and seem fine..

Didn't word smith this because I am short on time...anyone have any clues???

Help!

Bob

[GO DAWG GO]

BTW: No ground issues either..starter is functioning properly...

Could the B+ wire on the back of the alternator to the started have a intermitant issue?

Anyone heard of the 6 awg wire causing anything like this?

?????

Bob

[mark houghton]

Damn Bob, you have been having waayyyy toooo much fun! Bet you can do the alt install with your eyes closed by now.
Sorry I can't help, but I hear your frustration. I've been putting off pulling my alt to replace a bad regulator that goes ballistically high after it gets nicely heat soaked. I'm talking battery-boiling 18+ volts when it does it. Only happens when I park the car after a good run, then start back up.
So which is worse...my risking frying something with high voltage, or your dead-in-the-water with low voltage?
Winter project time....

[Miguel Antonett]

I believe that the engine harness check/inspection is your next step; looking for ground faults, mainly within the starter/alternator/battery circuit.