Another alternator question

[equate975]

Blah, I am an idiot...

Looks like the nut that is on the starter isn't the right kind or something, It doesn't seat down all the way to push the wires on nice and hard, even though when you tighten it it does feel like its on.

New nut and I think the mystery problem is solved!

[equate975]

Ok Ok, I found the other end, it is on the starter... but it doesn't feel like its on there too good.

Maybe it worked its way off or I forgot to tighten it down.

[equate975]

Oh wait here, wow I think I am a total idiot.....

Ok, I tested the + and - leads that come off my alternator. Ground is grounded, but positive does not make any contact with my power block in the engine bay....

So, where the hell did the other side of the positive wire for the alternator get connected to??

Should this hook RIGHT up to my starter??

[matt]

Ummm, duh?

Thats how it's hooked up!

[equate975]

I can't dumb it down any more than that, sorry.

It sounds like you want me to hook my alternator, starter, and battery all together on one cable.

[matt]

?

I can't dumb it down any more than that, sorry.

[RVA e30]

Do you have a very thick wire directly linking the big post on your alternator to the big post on your starter to your battery cable? If not, that's your problem.

+1

make sure your wires from your harness are all hooked up properly.

my guess is that you have a short somewhere, I had the same problem and replaced the battery and the alternator checked out fine, it was just a short in one of the wires.

[equate975]

Do you have a very thick wire directly linking the big post on your alternator to the big post on your starter to your battery cable? If not, that's your problem.

?

[matt]

Do you have a very thick wire directly linking the big post on your alternator to the big post on your starter to your battery cable? If not, that's your problem.

[golde30]

e30 m3's dont like e36 motors. they need to kiss and make up.

[equate975]

Ok heres the deal. I swapped a s52 in my car, no problems. About 2 months or so later the battery started giving me issues. It worked fine for a while, but then loses its charge and won't start the car. I assumed the battery was bad so I got a new one (it was under warranty and tested as "bad").

Well that fixed it for about a week, then same thing, power just gets sucked out and not put back in....

Ok I think, I goto autozone and have them test my battery and alternator, its only putting out 12v IIRC. Cool so my alternator is weak. Anyways the s52 had a 70amp Vaelo on it so I went to the salvage yard and picked up a 140 amp bosch for $30 or so. Well that didn't fix it either! I had it tested AGAIN at autozone and the same deal, 12V.

Well winter came up and I said fuck it for now, I planned on getting it rebuilt this summer when I take the car out.

So I dropped the alternator off to get rebuilt and the guy tells me its fine... Said I have a stead 14.2V on the bench and it took it apart to inspect the brushes and what have you and he said they are all just fine.

So does anyone have any bright ideas why my battery wont charge?!

Heres a few things that come to mind, specific or not.

1. Relay? Is there a relay that turns the alternator on to charge the battery?

2. Short? Could I have been running with a major short all this time?? I checked the 12+ terminal in my engine bay and all those wires for the harness and fuse box seem to be where they should.

3. OBDI conversion. I now recall something with a power wire. There were two red like 2 guage wires on the OBDI harness, we ended up cutting one off for I have no idea why. The guys helping me just said we did to do the conversion. So I have no idea whats up with that.

Thanks