This is topic Need Help & Fast with Dead Bat or Bad Alternator! in forum Tech Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by Jdub07 (Member # 2728) on :
 
Okay about a week ago my car wouldn't start so I bought a new battary since mine was over 4 years old. Tonight I put it in and the car fired right up. Then after about 10 min. of idle I took the posotive bat. cable off...car died instantly. Doesn't this mean the Alternator is bad?!?! and that the car was only running on the battary? If so I NEED AN ALTERNATOR BAD! Before Saturday morning!!! CAN ANYONE HELP ME?! 87-93 lx 5.0
 

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Posted by Quick 88LX (Member # 1950) on :
 
That isn't the BEST way to see if your alternator is junk but YES you need a new one bro. I remember way back when I had my '87 I did the same test and my car stayed running; so I needed a new battery and that was it. Come to find out later that removing the + cable while the car is running is NOT a good idea. Oh well. LIVE AND LEARN!!

Get a 3G or the black 140 powermaster
 

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Posted by Jdub07 (Member # 2728) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Quick 88LX:
That isn't the BEST way to see if your alternator is junk but YES you need a new one bro. I remember way back when I had my '87 I did the same test and my car stayed running; so I needed a new battery and that was it. Come to find out later that removing the + cable while the car is running is NOT a good idea. Oh well. LIVE AND LEARN!!

Get a 3G or the black 140 powermaster

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why isn't it good to pull the + cable off while running? would it be different if I had pulled the - cable off?
 

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Posted by DropTopFox (Member # 1689) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Quick 88LX:
That isn't the BEST way to see if your alternator is junk but YES you need a new one bro. I remember way back when I had my '87 I did the same test and my car stayed running; so I needed a new battery and that was it. Come to find out later that removing the + cable while the car is running is NOT a good idea. Oh well. LIVE AND LEARN!!

Get a 3G or the black 140 powermaster

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You mean a chrome 140 amp Powermaster
 

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Posted by Jdub07 (Member # 2728) on :
 
help

what if I had taken off the - cable instead of the + cable? are the chances of the car still running better when doing it that way or should I get the same result either way?
 

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Posted by Camara90 (Member # 134) on :
 
Its nOT good to pull of either cable, and when doing this test you are supposed to pull off the negative terminal. In the OLD DAYS this was alright do to the fact of cars not bieng computer controled but it is not recomended on newer vehicles. There are many other ways to test your alternator than this. You can check it various ways with a voltmeter by testing voltages and also by testing the diodes inside the alternator. If you cant do this why not go to kragen and let them test it for you for free. Sounds like a better option than frying a computer.

[ January 30, 2004, 12:24 PM: Message edited by: Camara90 ]
 

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Posted by Jdub07 (Member # 2728) on :
 
will do. going to kragen after work!
 

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Posted by st5150 (Member # 51) on :
 
AutoZone is cheaper than Kragens
 

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Posted by AL STOCK (Member # 1852) on :
 
Yeah, same thing with me.. My 3 month old battery died on my without warranty!!!!! So i took it back to the same shop where i got the battery from and tested it on the voltage meter.. It said the battery was average but alernator was readin somewhere in the 11.90s as in the voltage.

But thought the car would be good.. I take it to sacramento the same night driving around @ night the voltage guage was around 8-10volts on the guage on freeway driving.. Parked the car and it wouldnt start.. So i jump started the car and drove it to Kragens and bought the red Optima Cell Battery and its been running OK but i need an alternator bad too...

Im gonna order one soon if anyone doesnt have one
 

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Posted by st5150 (Member # 51) on :
 
If you get a parts store alternator, make sure you get the life time warranty one. I've had to replace mine 2-3 times already.
 

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Posted by Jdub07 (Member # 2728) on :
 
kinda in vain but I'm happy for my wallet. Turns out Camero90 was right. Turns out when I pulled the battery cable off while the car running it dicked with the computer some how,..Black945.0 suggested driving on it for about 50 miles are whatever and let the computer try and fix itself. WORKED,...car is running like the day I bought it

Thanks for the advice! Saved me some $$$$$
 

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Posted by Black94 5.0 (Member # 655) on :
 
JDUB07~Come over when you get a chance, I bought a new Craftman Multimeter ...We can check your alternator output, and the TPS on the way to fill up your bottle... ...
 

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Posted by Jdub07 (Member # 2728) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Black94 5.0:
JDUB07~Come over when you get a chance, I bought a new Craftman Multimeter ...We can check your alternator output, and the TPS on the way to fill up your bottle... ...

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