alt overcharge fried battery? help!!

J

jmd2914

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Jun 20, 2009

#1

• Jun 20, 2009

• #1

I'm still battling my alternator overcharging issues and I'm curious if the alt over charging the battery could fry the battery and cause it to not hold a charge as well i.e. starting issues like if the battery were dead. im really stumped and can use all the help i can get.
thanks in advance

J

 

jrichker

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#2

• Jun 20, 2009

• #2

Usually overcharging results in a battery that boils the electrolyte out and leaves you with exposed plates. Supposedly when air hits the plates, the exposed parts don't work as a battery after the exposure. This results in a battery with reduced capacity to start the car and keep the alternator working properly. Proper charge voltage is 13.8-14.2 volts at 72 degrees measured at the battery terminals. Cold days will cause the alternator to get up past 14.5 volts and not harm things.

 

J

jmd2914

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#3

• Jun 20, 2009

• #3

so right now my car feels like its having charging issues ( battery not holding a charge) but the alt is working overtime ( overcharging) what would be the best way to go about this? take the alt and battery both down and have them tested?

 

jrichker

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Jun 21, 2009

#4

• Jun 21, 2009

• #4

Most of the major auto parts stores like AutoZone or Advanced Auto Parts will test your charging system for free in the car. That's what I would do, since removing stuff to have it tested is a lot of extra work.

 

jrichker

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#5

• Jun 21, 2009

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Sorry, double post...

 

J

jmd2914

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Jun 21, 2009

#6

• Jun 21, 2009

• #6

i yanked the alt an battery out and had them tested. Alt checked out, battery was good but they said it wasnt charging very well so they gave me a new one. so far it seems to be working, although my voltage is still a bit high. anything else i can check other than the voltage reg?

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

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#7

• Jun 21, 2009

• #7

If voltage seems high, have you checked actual output? Compare the reading at the charge stud (on the alt) vs the solenoid's battery lug.

Check the output stud vs the sense-circuit voltage. If the latter reads a good bit lower than voltage at the solenoid, this can cause the alt to send out a bit of extra juice.

 

mustangsquared

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Jun 30, 2009

#8

• Jun 30, 2009

• #8

Sorry gotta bring her back to life...

where is the sense circuit voltage checked?? I had under hood smoke, electric fan stopped working and my battery is dry... so I figure its gotta be the alt...

 

HISSIN50

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#9

• Jun 30, 2009

• #9

mustangsquared said:

Sorry gotta bring her back to life...

where is the sense circuit voltage checked?? I had under hood smoke, electric fan stopped working and my battery is dry... so I figure its gotta be the alt...

Click to expand...

It's the regulator wire labeled A.

 

mustangsquared

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Jun 30, 2009

#10

• Jun 30, 2009

• #10

Thanks, get parts tomorrow and do some testing...