Yay I'm doing the shotgun mechanic thing...

[Brando]

Bah freaking humbug. I put in the new fuse/relay panel (Central Electrics). Although it did fix one problem I still have the two main ones... My system is not charging properly and the guages are all out of whack. Next up: Replace the large black positive lead wire that goes from the starter to the battery with the proper one (as Hugh told me to do a while ago) and swap the DME with a known good unit. After that... It's time to find a cherry shell...

[Granite 944]

1: Did you clean and tighten all grounding points behind the panel ( the grounding tree(s)? Ya should have.

2: Ever look at the connections at the back of your altenator, and look at the condition of voltage regulator in it? Ya need to.

3: Ever check out the main ground wire going to the back of the engine, and the posts/wiring associated to them? Ya need to.

4: Ever check all connectors/connections behind the instrument panels for a good/clean contact point? Ya need to.

5: Ya need to systematically clean, tighten every connector, check up from any and all terminals for corrosion, on every wire and thing in sight, and along the way. If ya don't.........you'll be chasing your ass for a long time coming.

These cars are getting old. They NEED the attention. Good luck!

[SoCal Driver]

As was discussed when you picked up the alternator:

The charging circuit is from the alternator to the starter to the battery.

After you replaced the alternator you reported that you had 14 VDC at the battery. What is it now?

What do the brushes in the alternator you removed look like? You may have a serious voltage drain -- the brushes will show it.

You did the "pull the fuse" thing to find the small voltage drain. What was the fuse/circuit that triggers this?

Yes your positive cable terminal does need to be replaced. Have to replace the entire cable to do a proper job of it.

P.S. Get your alternator rebuilt and installed. Don't ruin my spare alternator.

[Brando]

Originally posted by SoCal Driver
As was discussed when you picked up the alternator:

The charging circuit is from the alternator to the starter to the battery.

After you replaced the alternator you reported that you had 14 VDC at the battery. What is it now?

What do the brushes in the alternator you removed look like? You may have a serious voltage drain -- the brushes will show it.

You did the "pull the fuse" thing to find the small voltage drain. What was the fuse/circuit that triggers this?

Yes your positive cable terminal does need to be replaced. Have to replace the entire cable to do a proper job of it.

P.S. Get your alternator rebuilt and installed. Don't ruin my spare alternator.

Uhh let's see... I think you told me there was a way to bypass that alternator-to-starter circuit and run something straight to the battery -- i'm thinking that is a good idea right now.

Voltage sits at 12, then slowly drops to about 11.2 until the battery is drained.

I have yet to take my alternator apart. I have to give it to the rebuilder next week after payday. I will ask him how it looks inside when I get it back.

Positive cable... I'm looking at a replacement at the moment.

And your backup alternator, don't worry, the car's sitting un-used (your alternator isn't being worked) while I get my laundry list together

[Brando]

*bump*

Got 'er fixed today. Get this... Grounding strap from battery negative to engine was disconnected... Re-connected it and WOAH! My guages work, my everything works... Amazing. Yeah, I guess I should have checked that first, but I couldn't see where it went until I started moving wires and lines and hoses out of the way. I put a new nylock and washer on there, life is grand

Hugh, as soon as I get my alternator back I will have yours for you

Yay back to daily driver status!

[Moneyguy1]

It is always the simplest of things.