Charging issues again.

[equate975]

Here’s the story. I get my car up and running after the swap, buy a new battery, runs fine. After about 3 months the battery struggles to keep a charge, until the car wont even start without a jump. Once it was jumped it ran fine until you tried to restart it. I brought the battery back, it was bad, get a new one...

Now its doing the same thing. Its been about 2 months again, the battery will not keep a charge. Once the car is on everything is just fine, no dimming lights or anything. Turn it off, wont start up again.... I had the battery checked again and it’s supposedly fine. (Same battery from the same place, I got a free replacement)

I am going to go get the alternator load tested to see if that’s the issue. I have doubts though. I remember when the brushes went out on my m20 the car would not even drive, since the alternator didn’t work lol.

Is there anything I should check? Seems to me like it’s an issue somewhere after the alternator preventing the battery to charge, but I don’t know what.

Thanks

[Febi Guibo]

check the charging voltage (DC) at the battery while the car is running... it could the alternator, ground wire to the alternator, or a fault with the instrument cluster -- car will start, drive, but battery will not charge.

[equate975]

What would the instrument cluster have to do with it?

Ill go check the voltage now, ive been meaning to do that

[equate975]

11.97 volts

[equate975]

Just had it load tested, looks like its putting out enough to run the car but not enough to charge the battery at the same time :/

[lordofthewaters]

I'm probably wrong here, but I seem to remember something about it putting out 14v when working correctly...................Like you said too weak to run the car, and charge as well...........

[Febi Guibo]

What would the instrument cluster have to do with it?

Ill go check the voltage now, ive been meaning to do that

sorry, missed your reply: when the cluster is disconnected (or has a loose connection etc.) the car will start and run, but the battery will not charge.

[Adrian_Visser]

you should be seeing 13-14V across the battery when the engine is running, time for a new alternator.

[equate975]

Yeah I just took it out, looks like a shitty valeo... god damn french keep your own parts on your own cars!

Im going to go pickup a used bosch 140amp for $50 tommorow and throw it in, it would be more worthwhile to run that and rebuild it when I need to then rebuild this piece of crap.

[lordofthewaters]

Yeah I just took it out, looks like a shitty valeo... god damn french keep your own parts on your own cars!

Im going to go pickup a used bosch 140amp for $50 tommorow and throw it in, it would be more worthwhile to run that and rebuild it when I need to then rebuild this piece of crap.

I've heard several people mention that they were happy with the Duralast's from Autozone. Maybe worth looking at since it comes with a warranty and all.