on my1987 wagon with a EJ22 I am wondering if my charging system might be weak.When the engine is running I have a constant 14V on my gauge(autometer,not stock EA82 gauge) when when I turn on my blinkers/lights/etc my gauge drops a small amount when ever the blinkers flash.Basicaly my gauge rises and falls with the blinker.Is that normal or is my charging system dieing?

 

also if I run the motor for say 5 minutes my alternator will be hotter than hell.hotter than the block.the bearings in the alt are just starting to whine if it makes a difference.

on my1987 wagon with a EJ22 I am wondering if my charging system might be weak.When the engine is running I have a constant 14V on my gauge(autometer,not stock EA82 gauge) when when I turn on my blinkers/lights/etc my gauge drops a small amount when ever the blinkers flash.Basicaly my gauge rises and falls with the blinker.Is that normal or is my charging system dieing?

At idle the alternator doesn't output a lot, and loads such as lighting will cause a drop in voltage, especially if the battery cable connections aren't perfectly clean and the battery fully charged. Whether what you're seeing is "normal" depends on what you mean by "a small amount" -- how much of a drop is occurring? Does it stop doing it at speeds above idle?

 

 

also if I run the motor for say 5 minutes my alternator will be hotter than hell.hotter than the block.the bearings in the alt are just starting to whine if it makes a difference.

Well, that isn't "normal"; assuming you don't have an excessive electrical load and the drive belt isn't over-tensioned, the alternator is probably on the way out. Having the alternator load-tested might be a good idea.

I agree its normal at idle, but 14 volts is a little high. It's a sign its on its way out.

 

nipper

Most of the HD wiring in Subarus in an absolute joke. I've replaced lots of battery cables because of excessive voltage drops. I've also seen many EJ cars that were dropping over half a volt between the alternator and the battery positive. Time to get out your voltmeter and start checking stuff.

Most of the HD wiring in Subarus in an absolute joke. I've replaced lots of battery cables because of excessive voltage drops. I've also seen many EJ cars that were dropping over half a volt between the alternator and the battery positive. Time to get out your voltmeter and start checking stuff.

 

Tell me about it. My altenator was putting out way too much voltage, so i had it replaced. a month later the battery (from wally world -came with the car 2 yrs old) died. My mechanic installed the battery and checked the altenator he put in (yes my back wont let me pick up a bateery yet).

The Alt is putting out plenty of voltage, but my scan gauge and factory batt gauge tells me its a 1/2 - 1 volt lower then i like. I added a 10 gauge wire from the negative terminal to the altenator, which helped the odd transmission shifting the car was doing, but i still dont like the voltage.

I don't know where i am loosing the voltage. I am seriously considering replacing the battery cables.

 

nipper

Nipper,

 

The voltage loss will be in the smaller gauge wires going to the voltmeter due to IR losses. It really isn't a problem, as you know. You just make a mental note of the loss correction to the meter reading.

Do the voltage drop test that these guys are talking about:

 

Put one lead of a voltmeter on the stud sticking out of the alt that has the cable held on with the 10mm nut, and the other on the positive terminal of the battery. There should be less than 0.2 of a Volt. Do the same with the negative terminal of the battery to a clean spot on the alternator case.

 

14v is pretty close to normal.