wrxsubaru Posted May 24, 2004 Share Posted May 24, 2004 This is the theird, or forth battery my SVX has gone through in about 2 months. I have a 5spd SVX, and it seems like my alternator is not getting a charge to the battery. When ever i put a new battery in, or charge one up it only last about 2- 3 days before its complety dead, one time the battery was so dead that i had to drive home by pooping the clutch to get it to start. I drove for probley 10-15 mins on a complety dead battery so i know that the alternator works. I upgarged the grounging for 8 gauge to 2 gauge and i thought that fixed it, but no it jsut killed abnother battery. When ever my battery is about dead all the idiot lights come up very dimmley and fade away every so often. Any ideas what would casue this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swami2806 Posted May 24, 2004 Share Posted May 24, 2004 It prolly is your alternator. Voltage regulators, which is prolly the culprit, are inside alternators these days. Just take it off and bring it to a NAPA or someplace to have it tested. If it's not the alt., then you have a short somewhere draining the charge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrxsubaru Posted May 24, 2004 Author Share Posted May 24, 2004 I forgot to add i just got a rebuild of the alternator, i will have it tested tomaro probley. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiny Clark Posted May 24, 2004 Share Posted May 24, 2004 I know everyone will give me hell when I say this, but I've never experienced or seen damage done from doing it. Start the car, then remove the positve lead from the battery (or take the positive lead off and jump start from another vehicle if you don't feel it's safe). Turn on the brights, fan on high, rear defroster. The car should run powered only by the alternator throughout the RPM range. If it don't, it ain't hackin' the mission, if'n ya know whut I mean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AussieIan Posted May 24, 2004 Share Posted May 24, 2004 It isn't a good idea to do as Tiny suggest's the battery helps smooth the spikes that alternators can generate so you can zap things like the engine management system doing this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frag Posted May 24, 2004 Share Posted May 24, 2004 A simple multimeter set at DC Volt (accross the battery's posts) will tell you if your alt is putting more current than your car is eating: should be between 13 and 14.8 volts and over 12 volts with everything that's usually on when you drive. While you're at it, put the meter at AC Volts (+ to the alt ouput and - to ground). If you have an AC Voltage of more than .5 volt, the diodes are bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiny Clark Posted May 24, 2004 Share Posted May 24, 2004 He could always have it load tested at Autozone. I will stick by my method... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrxsubaru Posted May 25, 2004 Author Share Posted May 25, 2004 Had it checked it was a bad alternator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiny Clark Posted May 25, 2004 Share Posted May 25, 2004 Good deal, sounded like it. Did you buy a rebuilt, or is there an alternator repair place around your area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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