Charging problem

[knight44]

Hey guys,

I have an 87 Targa, the battery is not being charged, replaced alternator, no change. Battery light does not come on at all, but it the battery does not get charged. Is this related to the light circuit or is something else going on? Starter wiring issues?

Fan initially made light contact with shroud after alternator replacement, but resolved itself quickly, and this was not occurring before, would this have any affect?

Dano

[kodioneill]

Pull out the gauge and check the indicator bulb. If the bulb is burnt out the alternator wont charge.

[rinverso]

turn ignition switch halfway. should light. if not pull gauge and check bulb, if bulb is good, clean contacts to bulb. amazing i almost replaced my alternator due to a corroded spade connector at the alternator indictor light. good luck

[Targalid]

Check all major connections between battery and alternator, especially grounds: battery to chassis and tranny to body under the car. The chassis ground and the ground strap from the body to the engine/transmission oxidize and pass less current with age. Clean the battery cable connections at the battery. I have had similar problems that cleared up with sanding the connections and reassembly. Your fan initially touching the housing should have no effect on charging.

[knight44]

Firstly, I would to thank you guys for your input and assistance. Pulled the gauge and checked the bulb, it is good and connections are clean, the socket is not receiving power. Would a bad ground connection you mentioned cause this? Many thanks.

Dano

[DRACO A5OG]

Check your battery connectors, my positive one was split half way causing a poor continuity, no charge. Replaced, no more issues.

[knight44]

Did battery connections yesterday after pulling the gauge and checking the bulb, so far everything looks fine, so I go under the car today.

[knight44]

OK, have replaced alternator, checked bulb and connectors, have checked/cleaned battery terminals/leads, cleaned tran ground strap and cleaned starter connections, still no battery light, anything else?

As the old man would say, "I am out of airspeed and ideas"

Dano

[Joe Bob]

The LIGHT is part of the charging system. If it doesn't come on prior to starting the engine it's likely the BULB is burnt or there is an issue with the wirining TO the bulb......the bulb has to light up...then got out when the engine is running at the proper rpms to charge the battery.

[kodioneill]

How did you check for power at the bulb connection? You have to turn the key on then test. It initially get's the ground through the alternator then when it starts +12v is at the bulb so the light goes out. Check for both power and ground at the socket.

[knight44]

Kodi, I checked the bulb on the battery with an alligator clip, lit up fine, the checked the terminals with a simple light tester with the key on, not running, light should be on, but no power. With everything I have done (barring the odds that I replaced a bad alternator with another bad one), there has to be a bad ground somewhere in the circuit, but apparently not an obvious one. Guy I bought it from did some "creative" wiring for his after market sound system (DO NOT DO THIS, SECOND CAR I HAVE HAD WITH THIS BS, not that stock is great, but just enjoy the wonderful sound that is Porsche instead), and something has to have come loose (no blown fuses, has to be a ground). Keep y'all posted.

Dano

[Hugh R]

Just started my 84 to take it for a run, hasn't run in a few weeks due to business travel. The alt. light came on at ignition on and then stayed on when running. I put a Fluke meter across the battery terminals and got 11.9V, running and off. Battery was sort of drained so I put it on a charger. Ran fine two weeks ago. I can hear a sort of rumbling/clicking sound at the alternator, belt is tight. Had the alternator rebuilt about 5 y/o and not that many miles, may 8,000. I'll pull the gauge in the next few days if the charging of the battery doesn't fix it (which I doubt) to check the bulb spade connections (good tip, didn't know that). I'll check the connections at the battery, as well.

[Joe Bob]

Sounds like the alt is kaput, Herr Disney.....could be bearings due to the noise......but if it isn't charging.....

DO NOT get a REMAN, they suck. Find a local rebuilder.

[Hugh R]

Rats, I mean Mouse.

[knight44]

OK, next I ran a ground wire to the socket to turn the bulb on and started engine for few seconds. Light stayed on, but then again I hard wired the ground from outside the circuit, would this make the light stay on although there may be nothing wrong with the alternator? Still possible just a bad ground?

Dano

[howard freeman]

Get a new Valeo , You won't have any problems with it since its O.E. . Bosch remans of the Valeo/Paris Rhone alternators Stink.
Howard

[kodioneill]

The regulator in the alternator is toast. If you read the previous post, the bulb gets it's ground through the alternator.

[knight44]

Kodi et al, fixed! Y'all were on the right track, one of the brushes had been broken on install by the rebuilder. Many thanks again!

Bestens,

Dano

[DRACO A5OG]

Sweet, yeah my rebuilt one was not fixed correctly, lucky I checked before installation.

No go drive her

[kodioneill]

Love it when things work out.