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Problem solved, maybe not.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dbeck002
  • Start date Start date Jul 8, 2005

Dbeck002

New Member
Apr 30, 2005
710
0
0
South florida
Jul 8, 2005
#1
  • Jul 8, 2005
  • #1
So a little while ago as you all know i encountered an electrical problem. I thought there was a drain in my cars circuit. i couldnt find it, my battery was dead and car couldnt start. i changed the solenoid thinking maybe that is the short that is draining my battery. nope.

so for 4 days im trying hard to locate this drain. soon i get frustrated and tow it to the mechanic, first time in my life i take my car to one.

i told him whats up, 2 days later he calls me and tells me that my battery is just a bad battery.

i told him the battery is less than 5 months old, he says he left it to charge for an hour and it was still dead. turns out i put a new battery in there and she starts right up and runs hard as usual.

the mechanic also told me my ALTERNATOR is faulty. that is a new unit as well, a 3G 150 AMP LOAD BOSS. i am sure my alternator was healthy so i got a second opinion, this time from a professional alternator rebuilder, locally. he showed me physical proof that my alt is healthy, BUT.

if i leave my fan and the car is idling, the charge is barely above 12 volts. not enough to keep battery charged. so this means the fan kept sucking up my battery juice!! he told my that fan is what is causing the problem, question is. i want to keep my underdrive crank pulley but i also want to keep a healthy 13+ voltage charge. what can i use to remedy this? do they sell overdrive alternator pulleys?
 

HardmanGT

Founding Member
Oct 5, 2001
500
0
17
Thomaston, CT
Jul 8, 2005
#2
  • Jul 8, 2005
  • #2
Overdrive your alternator. That will allow you to keep the rest of the pulleys and get better charging at idle

ASP-520004

$18.50 from Sumitt

Auto Specialties Overdrive Alternator Pulleys

Alternator Pulley, Serpentine, 6-Groove, Steel, Nitride, .668 in. Bore, Bolt-On

View attachment 510011
 

wht93gtEd

Active Member
Nov 11, 2004
0
9
29
Jersey Shore, New Jersey
Jul 8, 2005
#3
  • Jul 8, 2005
  • #3
alternator's can be bad right off of the shelf.

Also, I wouldn't consider 12 volts at idle to be that bad. Since you usually don't drive around idleing.

How is it while you're driving. I say that everything's find and leave it alone.
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
33
129
Jul 8, 2005
#4
  • Jul 8, 2005
  • #4
Was a ground added from the motor to the chassis for the 3G?

FWIW, an alternator can put out decent voltage, but it can have a bad diode, which will allow juice to be drawn from the battery when the car is off. Setting up a meter to note draw (like you did before) and then disconnecting the cable to the alternator (from the solenoid) is a way to test that.

That Boss alternator might be lifetime warranty, should an issue arise.

Good luck.
 

Dbeck002

New Member
Apr 30, 2005
710
0
0
South florida
Jul 8, 2005
#5
  • Jul 8, 2005
  • #5
hardman thanks for the pulley link.

guys im pretty sure if i overdrive the alt i will be fine. the power decrease will probably not be noticeable (getting AFRs in the mail soon) and i need the extra charge since i run electric radiator fan and sound system and AC here in florida =/

thanks for all your help guys.. btw i will check the alternator for the diode and regulator.

thanks.
 
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