alternater problems?

[thekidd]

The other night while leaving from a bar near my house, my '84 944 didnt start up. Dint have a volt meter, but I tried jumping it, checked the fuses, and the fluids just for the hell of it. All the lights on the car worked before trying to jump it, but the headlights went up slower than normal and seemed a bit dim in the mist ahead of me. When I locked up, my key broke in the door. I got the key out, got my spare from my house today and tried starting her up today. I got nothing from the car today. My guess is the alternater?
When I bought the car back in June, it died and got the alt. tested (BAD), and replaced that and the battery. Everwhen I bought the car, the battery light has always been on very lightly/dimly. Has anybody else had to replace their alternator 2+ times a year? What may a fix be?

[TSNAPCRACKLEPOP]

battery connections, belt tension, grounds

[John_AZ]

Originally Posted by thekidd

Everwhen I bought the car, the battery light has always been on very lightly/dimly. Has anybody else had to replace their alternator 2+ times a year? What may a fix be?

I replaced the alternator on the '87 this year for the same reasons-very dim red light easily seen at dark. Before changing, I replaced the VR and it helped but the battery never seemed fully charged. Both checked out at auto store OK. Hydrometer was in lowest level green (charged) area of float.

I went on EBay and bought a rebuilt alt orig at 90 amps upgraded to 115 amps -about $100 + ship no core. Problem solved-no dim light at hydrometer reading in center.
My reason for larger amps is due to age of wires and FP +++++, anyway, it did the trick.

You could go and do the normal steps.
Have alt and batt checked at FLAPS
Check for battery drain by putting an amp meter between the POS cable and battery terminal. Keep pulling fuses to find out what circuit is draining batt.
Remember, you have a sleep mode radio and tiny hood lights.

Clean terminals from alt to starter to batt. If any corrosion is on cable at batt befor the lead terminal end- get a new HD US government type end. Your cables also will have increased resistance by this time.
Put a alternate negative cable on the alternator to block-sometimes this helps.
Put a direct thick gauge cable from alt to batt and bypass starter-sometimes this helps.

You may just have had bad luck and got a bad alternator AND battery at the same time.

GL
John_AZ
1988 924S + 1987 924S

[jmd_forest]

Check the simple (and cheap) stuff first. Had the exact same problem you described and jumped the gun buying an alternator. Diagnosed it in a parking lot in the dark with a dim flashlight and wasted the $130 on the alternator trying to reduce downtime by getting the part ASAP. Turns out a 6 month old belt partially shredded.

I'd check out the belt, belt tension, alternator mounting, battery terminals, battery, cables, and cable mount points (all quick and free checkouts if you have basic knowledge and a few tools) before concluding it is the alternator.

just my 2 cents.

jmd_forest

[thekidd]

Tried taking the Alt. out to get it tested, but while trying to get it off, the 13mm bolt on the alt. broke the 13mm socket. I tested the battery using a meter and I got 12.6DCVs, Dont know if it is the alt. anymore.