Re: battery drains, but takes a charge, altenator is
Possibly one of your circuits is left on. Check especiallye small lights around your car. ie, glove compatiments, on sun shields etc. You may also want to make sure that there is enough water or elecrolyte in your battery.
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Some how the alternator doesn't charge the battery. Do a battery voltage check with both engine on and off, should be 12V ish off and over 13V on. You need to recheck your alternator replacement to see if it's correct, everything plugged in yes? All the wires and eye terminal bolted on? It is very likely that the alternator you changed not charging the battery at all that's why after 20min rolling on un-charged battery power it must go down.
This problem may be a drain or a bad battery or alternator.
The first thing to do before going on trying to find the system that is draining the battery would be to have the battery tested and charging system tested.
A weak battery will seem ok after the car is jumped or will barely start the car and the alternator will charge it even though the alternator is overworking due to weak battery and during the day or when car does not sit long it will seem ok. then when car sits overnight or a few days battery will weaken on its own, making it look like a drain,
so first step is battery test and alternator/charging system test.
Are you sure that you hooked up the alternator correctly? It sounds like the battery is draining and not being recharged. Of course, it could be a voltage regulator that is going bad. Here's a tip to test the alternator- get a boost to start the car. Disconnect the battery and see if the car dies. The car should run from the alternator. The battery is only needed to start the car. So, if the car continues to run with only the alternator, then there is a problem with the battery.
Sounds like a bad alternator. Drained your battery and when you turned on the lights it took all the power left in your battery. When you drain a battery down that far, they are real hard to jump, and coupled with the alternator, the car is not producing enough current to start and stay running.
I would take the alternator off and take it to oyur local auto parts store to be tested. If bad, replace it and charge the battery fully before starting. Then check voltage at battery with motor running. Should be 13.2 -14 Volts DC. If not, you may have a bad battery cable or blown fusible link. (especially that if the alternator tests good).....Mike
make sure that big red wire coming from the altenator isnt broken somewhere, Is the battery going dead when the car sits overnite? or when you are driving it
If all the wiring is OK - have the alternator output checked. A voltmeter connected across the battery terminals should read above 13.5 volts with the engine running. If not - the alternator may need to be replaced.
Sounds like the alternator may be missing an excitation current source.
Check the 'IGN' dash indicator lights when you turn ignition switch on prior to starting motor,
if not one of the below may be problem:-
1) check exiter control wire is connected to alternator D+ terminal (low current wire, +V with Ign on),
2) replace dash 'IGN' indicator lamp.
well for starters your altenator is bad because what it is dolinging is over charging the battery hence why it boiled off the water/acid in the battery. the regulater is intergrated into the altenator. there is not a short because numberone your car would not start and two your battery would explode. i never test a battery or altenator at a store like napa or Oreilly's because they are not mechanics ......they are parts guys. your altenator should charge the battery at no more than 14 volts and the average is 13.5 volts. you need to replace the altenator the reason why you are losing a charge is be cause as the car is running the battery is being discharged because the regulator is defective in the altenator. please rate this thanks
battery drains in a couple of days
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