Author Topic: New problem!!!!!!  (Read 6444 times)

Offline punisher72

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 293
  • 70Challenger 440 4 speed yeeehaaaaa!!!!!!!
New problem!!!!!!
« on: December 22, 2009 - 09:48:48 PM »
Ok im having probs with my battery going flat ova a couple of weeks even if i drive a few times a week? When connecting the battery terminal there is no spark which indicates there is no power draining. While the car is running i take the earth terminal off the battery and car dies straight away? Is this normal with msd and electronic ignition? To me that indicates that my alternator isnt charging? Is this right?  :banghead: Can someone please shed some light?




Offline mopardave

  • Sponsor
  • Resident
  • ***
  • Posts: 3294
  • 1973 Challenger F8 in and out, 68 383,727 3.23 pos
    • rosevillemoparts
Re: New problem!!!!!!
« Reply #1 on: December 22, 2009 - 10:08:51 PM »
sounds like the alternator is dead, how bad of a draw does the car have not running with everything hooked up?
Mopar Dave
Rosevillemoparts.com

if I haven't replied to your post or PM email me direct    dradcliffe@mikeriehls.com




70 FK5 Challenger RT/SE
70 FC7 70 Road Runner - Sold
71 FM3 Challenger RT
71 Cuda (in process for restoration)
73 F8 Challenger
1990 XJ - sold
2000 Dakota Quad Cab
2010 Ram Crew Cab 2500 4wd - sold
2015 Ram Crew Cab 2500 4wd Black Out

Offline 426HEMI

  • Sr. Resident
  • ******
  • Posts: 5187
  • My M46 Barracuda! Member Since:October 01, 2005
Re: New problem!!!!!!
« Reply #2 on: December 22, 2009 - 10:11:17 PM »
sounds like the alternator is dead, how bad of a draw does the car have not running with everything hooked up?

 :iagree:  sounds like the alt is not charging like it should.  I would check that first may not be putting out enough to keep the battery up
Got a pretty good start on my M46 optioned Barracuda restoration but now it is on hold till I can gather more funds.  Still need a few parts for it.  SIU Graduate 75 AAS Automotive Tech, 94 BS Advanced Tech Studies, 1997 MSED Workforce Education and Development

1970 M46 Barracuda
1998 Dodge Darango

Gordon

Offline punisher72

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 293
  • 70Challenger 440 4 speed yeeehaaaaa!!!!!!!
Re: New problem!!!!!!
« Reply #3 on: December 22, 2009 - 10:22:11 PM »
Mopardave,Im not sure what u mean? 426HEMI, whats the best way to check if alternator is charging? When running it reads 12.9 volts then when revving its 13.3 from memory! When not running its 12.9 at different points!

Offline mopardave

  • Sponsor
  • Resident
  • ***
  • Posts: 3294
  • 1973 Challenger F8 in and out, 68 383,727 3.23 pos
    • rosevillemoparts
Re: New problem!!!!!!
« Reply #4 on: December 22, 2009 - 10:29:21 PM »
if your alt is fielding under load then you need to check a dead draw when the car is not running, disconnect the positive cable and put a test light in between
the cable terminal and battery post, in theory it should not light if no draw, if it does light up read it with a meter to get an idea of voltage being used. start unplugging parts until it doesnt light. something can be shorted and you may not know it.
Mopar Dave
Rosevillemoparts.com

if I haven't replied to your post or PM email me direct    dradcliffe@mikeriehls.com




70 FK5 Challenger RT/SE
70 FC7 70 Road Runner - Sold
71 FM3 Challenger RT
71 Cuda (in process for restoration)
73 F8 Challenger
1990 XJ - sold
2000 Dakota Quad Cab
2010 Ram Crew Cab 2500 4wd - sold
2015 Ram Crew Cab 2500 4wd Black Out

Offline 6packCuda

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1932
  • Eagle, NE... Member since 11/17/06
Re: New problem!!!!!!
« Reply #5 on: December 22, 2009 - 10:58:17 PM »
Sounds to me like your alternator is charging but not enough. You should have closer to 14.5 Volts when running.
Dave

Offline Aussie Challenger

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 3407
  • In Kansas loaded for Drive to West Coast.
Re: New problem!!!!!!
« Reply #6 on: December 23, 2009 - 05:06:29 AM »
 
Mopardave,Im not sure what u mean?  whats the best way to check if alternator is charging? When running it reads 12.9 volts then when revving its 13.3 from memory! When not running its 12.9 at different points!
  Check the voltage at the battery when the headlights (high & low beams) are turned on. The 13.3v is very low, I suspect a field has gone in the alternator. Idling should be high 13's, above idle it should go up around 14.5v and when headlights are turned on should not drop below 14v.
Dave

Offline FY1 RT SE

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 630
Re: New problem!!!!!!
« Reply #7 on: December 23, 2009 - 11:49:50 AM »
Ok im having probs with my battery going flat ova a couple of weeks even if i drive a few times a week? When connecting the battery terminal there is no spark which indicates there is no power draining. While the car is running i take the earth terminal off the battery and car dies straight away? Is this normal with msd and electronic ignition? To me that indicates that my alternator isnt charging? Is this right?  :banghead: Can someone please shed some light?

Best way to kill an alternator is to remove the cable from the battery when the car is running.

Offline Super Blue 72

  • Permanent Resident
  • *******
  • Posts: 12711
  • "Big 'n Little" Member since 8/9/05
    • Phil's Super Blue '72
Re: New problem!!!!!!
« Reply #8 on: December 23, 2009 - 12:01:07 PM »
My  :2cents: is that  I would pull out the alternator and bring it to NAPA or Autozone to have it tested.

Also, are you running any aftermarket stereo/amps or anything like that?  Alarm system?

If it isn't a bad alternator situation, I agree with mopardave to use a meter between the battery post and the cable terminal with the cable off the battery when the engine is off to see what sort of an amperage draw you are gettin.  I don't know off hand what the acceptable limit is.  If there is a draw killing you battery and it's not a bad altrnator, you can disconnect the different parts like mopardave said to see when the amperage draw decreases or unplug fuses to the various components.
1972 Dodge Challenger Rallye 340, AT, Code TB3=Super Blue, SBD=8/17/1971.  Yes, a Rallye without the fender louvers from the factory because of the body side molding option.

Pic #2 and 3 of my ARII 1/24 scale model car 

Phil in New England-Massachusetts  Always thank God for what you have!

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/456046/1972-dodge-challenger

Offline 72cudamaan

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 3248
Re: New problem!!!!!!
« Reply #9 on: December 23, 2009 - 01:31:11 PM »
Electronic ign. systems require more voltage to operate. You definitely have too little voltage going to the battery.  But you really need to check amperage input as well.  You might have a bad cell in the battery so that it wont accept a charge. Either way 13.3 volts is not enough to run the car and put much if any charge back into the battery. :2cents:
If I cant fix it, it's broke
 
Andy  (phukker whither)

Offline punisher72

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 293
  • 70Challenger 440 4 speed yeeehaaaaa!!!!!!!
Re: New problem!!!!!!
« Reply #10 on: December 23, 2009 - 05:18:34 PM »
You guys are awsome  :worshippy I took the + terminal off while not running and there is no draw whatsoever! The battery is brand new and is a big 660 cca truck 1. The alternator is all shiny and looks new,but who knows what condition its in? Next step is to check the voltages with lights on etc. I will get back shortly  :cheers:

Offline punisher72

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 293
  • 70Challenger 440 4 speed yeeehaaaaa!!!!!!!
Re: New problem!!!!!!
« Reply #11 on: December 23, 2009 - 06:28:02 PM »
OKKKK. The alternator isnt charging which is strange as it was a couple of weeks ago??????? Its christmas eve and theres no leckys open  :walkaway: Maybe a good mate of mine might be able to help me out  :drunk: To top it off it was raining and when i turned my wipers on the middle of the blade holder hits my TA bonnet  :swear: Let this year be ova a bit quicker please!!!!!!

Offline Strawdawg

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 2209
    • Vortex Buicks
Re: New problem!!!!!!
« Reply #12 on: December 23, 2009 - 06:30:50 PM »
Best way to kill an alternator is to remove the cable from the battery when the car is running.

Definitely not the right thing to do

Offline dodj

  • Sr. Resident
  • ******
  • Posts: 6197
Re: New problem!!!!!!
« Reply #13 on: December 23, 2009 - 10:45:28 PM »
While the car is running i take the earth terminal off the battery and car dies straight away? Is this normal with msd and electronic ignition?
If your car was missing the engine to body ground strap...yes.
When running it reads 12.9 volts then when revving its 13.3 from memory! When not running its 12.9 at different points!
A 12vdc battery is really a 13.2vdc battery. So you need more than 13.2 volts to charge it - 13.3v isn't enough. Revving should be over 14.5 volts.  12.9 with it not running, to me, would mean a good battery.  :2thumbs:
While it may be your alternator, the voltage regulator is still in the running.  :2cents:
Scott
1973 Challenger  440 4 spd 
2007.5 3500 6.7 Cummins Diesel, Anarchy tuned.
Good friends don't let friends do stupid things. ........alone.

Offline 73EStroker

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1343
Re: New problem!!!!!!
« Reply #14 on: December 24, 2009 - 05:59:44 PM »
Never undo the battery and simply let the car run on the alternator. What happens is you can screw up the regulating circuit so the field in the alternator keeps weakening which causes the alternator to go into both overcurrent and overvoltage situations. You can get up to about 125VDC this way and goodbye lots of electrical thingys in your car. If you have to check the alternator place a voltmeter across the terminals  - check the readings with 1) engine off 2) engine idling and 3) engine at about 3000RPM. You should see the voltage go up to about 14.5 volts max. Little higher is ok but not too much though.
Barry (Salmon Arm)