Voltage Questions

[Redman]

Ok, I put in aftermarket gauges. And my voltage meter agrees with the stock voltage meter. My votage is running at about 10 volts at idle. When my heater fan is on it drops to about 9 volts. Then when I put my turn signal on it fluctuates down to 8. And lo and behold when I turn my stereo up it drop really really low. Now my altenator is fairly new. What could my problem be? Is my electrical system searching for a good ground or something? Oh and by the way when my voltage is low it affects the way the engine runs......Heellllpppp!!!!!! I just want to make it right. thanks

[ March 11, 2004, 06:42 PM: Message edited by: Redman ]

[89grand]

Mine reads low at idle with accessories on too but is fine when the motor gets reved a little. Mine seems fine though, no battery problems or engine running problems. It may just be that these alternators don't put out much at idle. If your engine runs a little different now that's a problem but even if the alternator wasn't charging at all at idle speed the battery alone should be enough to keep it running well.

[ March 11, 2004, 06:47 PM: Message edited by: 89grand ]

[jeeperj20]

Check the grounds from the battery to the frame and also there should be one from the engine to the frame and body...clean them all good and get them tight. There is also one on the alternator to the block or to the battery...if this does not help, you may want to change the pulley on the alternator to spin it faster at idle...good luck

[joe]

I'd check the grounds also especially the body. I had a low voltage thing in my CJ like that. The body is grounded to the frame via the body mounts but the mount bolts were pretty corroded. I added a ground strap from the neg batt terminal to the firewall and all is well now. I believe that later Wags even came stock with a wire from the neg batt term to the fenderwell. Might check and see if it's still there and making a good connection.

[89grand]

Mine is, but it's not a very big wire maybe a 12 gauge at best.

[Redman]

I really think it's a ground to body issue. I know that I had a similar problem on my 79 Chero, and when I reran and cleaned the grounds to the body it all ran better, but I have an amp meter on it, and this voltage meter is throwing me off. I'll try it in next couple of days and see what I get. Oh by the way whoever was wondering about mounting aftermarket gauges in the newer wags, I just mounted mine in a great spot that works great. I'll post pics as soon as I load them on my puter. thank for you info guys.

[osceola]

grounding strap i belives is under r/s motor mount . examine same . check fusible link if it has one from alternator output to battery juice might not be flowing.out time i had a stone cold dead battery and it caused the fusible link to pop .replaced it with a piece of 8 wire.check voltage output at alternator out put . if it is way low check inputs to alternator small wires . they should have voltage. if no work back . if way high juice not getting to system . fusible link brown one i think

[Joe Guilbeau]

What happens when you rev the engine?

Does the voltage come up and stay up?

[andy d]

loose belt?

[Redman]

The belt is tight, and the voltage does not recover when rpm's are raised. I plan on rewireing everything eventually, but I was hoping later than sooner. Thanks osceola, I forgot about the fusible link. I will check that also.

[Joe Guilbeau]

Your alternator regulator is shot...or the "Sense" circuit to the alternator is shot...

If you have the Delco 10/12-SI units, then you have 3 wires...a brown wire that should be a ni-chrome resistance wire of 15 Ohms with 12 volts running thru the resistor to provide a voltage divider circuit at the No. 1 Terminal on the alternator, another wire should be a 12Vdc signal going to the No. 2 Terminal, the third wire is the alternators output.