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New alternator, insufficient output

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    New alternator, insufficient output

    Been having some trouble with my charging system, completely out of the blue.

    My battery, alternator and starter are less than a year old. Duralast battery, remanufactured bosch starter and alternator.

    With car jump started and idling, nothing on, I get ~12.2 across the battery terminals, clearly not enough. This is why my car was not starting, even after long drives after getting jump started. Engine speed does not change the output. Car will run alright after getting jump started as long as I don't put on too many accessories. If I do (say, rear defrost, blower 3, radar, radio, and high beams) too soon after getting jumped the antil-lock light on the dash will start turning on and off regularly as I begin to lose power (radio is the first to shut down/restart). This happened a mile from my house as I was driving and I was afraid the car was going to die while in motion it was so severe.

    Engine ground, alt ground, and all other wires are all tight and solid. Battery terminals tight. No trouble starting as long as I get a jump or pop start. A little more deflection in the alternator belt than I'd like, but I can't turn the alternator fan by hand and it's by no means loose. Alternator has about 1/4"-1/2" of front to back movement. Related?

    Why is my <1yr old starter only putting out 12.2v? Why is my anti-lock light turning on and off in relation to my car's electrical health? Should I simply request an RMA on my alternator and call it a day?
    86Zinno

    #2
    Bump
    86Zinno

    Comment


      #3
      Alternator is fucked
      Originally posted by bmwm42
      PNW vulture pm me for parts
      Strategic nw e30 command

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by bmwm42 View Post
        Alternator is fucked
        Word.
        86Zinno

        Comment


          #5
          Your starter does not put out voltage, not sure if that was a typo or what.

          All your battery does is supply voltage to your starter, once the car is started everything runs off the alternator.

          You should have 12.2ish volts at the battery without the car running.

          Once you start the car the voltage at the battery should be around 14.4 volts.

          It would seem your alternator is not working.

          Comment


            #6
            [QUOTE=dwvw;2826729]Your starter does not put out voltage, not sure if that was a typo or what.

            All your battery does is supply voltage to your starter, once the car is started everything runs off the alternator.

            You should have 12.2ish volts at the battery without the car running.

            Once you start the car the voltage at the battery should be around 14.4 volts.

            It would seem your alternator is fucked.[/QUOTE]

            Fixed
            Originally posted by bmwm42
            PNW vulture pm me for parts
            Strategic nw e30 command

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by dwvw View Post
              Your starter does not put out voltage, not sure if that was a typo or what.

              All your battery does is supply voltage to your starter, once the car is started everything runs off the alternator.

              You should have 12.2ish volts at the battery without the car running.

              Once you start the car the voltage at the battery should be around 14.4 volts.

              It would seem your alternator is not working.
              You know what I meant.

              Originally posted by bmwm42 View Post
              Fixed
              Word. Replacement replacement gets here tomorrow.
              86Zinno

              Comment


                #8
                Replaced the alternator today. Looked like a new unit with a reman sticker on it. Running, measuring across battery terminals is a rock solid 13.91v as opposed to a wandering 12.2ish. Considering the problem fixed (fingers crossed). Thanks.
                86Zinno

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