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Electrical guys.... please help?

  • Thread starter Thread starter 66 Tiger
  • Start date Start date Mar 19, 2004

66 Tiger

New Member
Jul 13, 2003
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Virginia
Mar 19, 2004
#1
  • Mar 19, 2004
  • #1
I noticed the other day that my voltage fluctuating. Being that I have the stock guages I decided to verify their acuracy & wired my digital multi meter to a lighter adapter & noticed that it was indeed dropping from 13.9 down to around 12.5 volts. The odd thing was that it seemed to only do this under acceleration or when I hit a bump? I have a 135 amp alterstart alt & a new battery. Both are about 3 mos old. Does anyone have any experience with this? Thanks... Oh yeah, this is on the 1990.
 
G

gabourie

Founding Member
Sep 28, 2001
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Mar 19, 2004
#2
  • Mar 19, 2004
  • #2
Have you upgraded the factory wiring, the ground cable, the power wire from alt to battery, from battery to solenoid

increase these to 4 gauge or better, even though you have upgraded to the ho alt, you are still bottle necking the charging system throught the crappy factory wire

I upgraded all of mine to 0 gauge, but I have my battery in the trunk and a good stereo
 

66 Tiger

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Jul 13, 2003
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Virginia
Mar 19, 2004
#3
  • Mar 19, 2004
  • #3
I used the two 12ga factory wires plus installed an 8ga wire and ran it straight from the battery to the new alternator. I haven't messed with the solenoid wireing because the car is starting fine.(for the now!) What should I change the ground wire out to?
 

Michael Yount

Mustang Master
Apr 10, 2002
9,039
6
79
Charlotte, NC
Mar 19, 2004
#4
  • Mar 19, 2004
  • #4
The bigger the better. And I'd go through and loosen, clean and retighten every ground I could find. Perhaps you've got a loose ground that's moving a bit and not making good contact under acceleration/deceleration.
 

jrichker

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Mar 10, 2000
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Mar 22, 2004
#5
  • Mar 22, 2004
  • #5
3G alternators need a 4 gauge ground wire from the block to the chassis ground point where the battery chassis ground is located.
 

Black Sun 5.0

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Mar 23, 2002
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L.I., N.Y.
Mar 22, 2004
#6
  • Mar 22, 2004
  • #6
I had the same issue, bad ground. 2 and a half years of mechanics looking for the issue, it was the ground that went from the battery to the inner fender wall. Burned a hole right though.
 
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