Charging system weak? and other questons

Prospeeder · February 17, 2006, 07:55:52 PM

Well, i didnt know if this was "normal" but my car when you use anything electrical just dims, the headlights will for less than 1/2 second go out and back on just super quick but noticable or dim badly when i touch the brake, and occasionally when i touch the brake my HUD will flash both the turn signals. Also my altenator is old and the fan is rusty, its make slight noise, my battery cables are ok, and my grounds look ok, and my battery isnt leaking shit, but i have run it down ALOT! And this things stalling at stops, its happend to me twice today!

And this things gettin poor gas mileage and seems like 3/4 throttle has more response than WOT, and it almost seems like it has a dead spot between 4-5 k then picks up again after 5k, its strange, my plugs are original and will be replaced, this cars got 73k on it now, it was ALOT stronger when i first bought it, mabye just Xover getting worse, stock chip, stock plugs? Coils getting weak? Altenator going out, battery going bad... i dunno

Also it seems the instantly start ice cold but when its warm it takes alot of cranking to start

EDIT: i also realized this should bei n Problem and solution section, my bad!

GOT2B GM · February 17, 2006, 08:24:08 PM

I'd probably start with the alternator. I have to put a new one in my TGP.

R Dubya · February 17, 2006, 10:42:05 PM

First thing you should do is replace the x-over. Plain and simple. With that, a new crank sensor, new plugs (R42LTS), wires, cleaning of the IAC and making sure all injectors are within proper resistance, you will notice a big difference in the way the car runs and drives. You have yet to get a x-over and chip, you seriously do not know what your car is capable of.

Doug Goodwrench · February 18, 2006, 05:39:38 AM

Start with the obvious - tune up.

I agree with the checking/replacing the alternator.
On the older cars the alt used to put out 13.48v, on the newer ones I see the volt gauge at 13.8v. (Fluke digital multimeter)

Of course your output voltage will vary depending on the condition of the battery and the cables. It should be in the range listed above.

If the car doesn't idle fast enough that can cause the alt to not be able to put out enough juice to run the elect. system. (At idle- usually causes running rough, not necessarily a stall condition though.)
If your alternator has to put out more than 14v, the battery may be going bad. Have it checked, most parts stores will do it free.

---If the alt has to put out 15v the battery is most definately bad.

The x-over and chip will probably be next after you do those 2 things, which they cure the stalling issue associated with these cars.

Prospeeder · February 23, 2006, 08:53:59 PM

Wellll my altenator took a shit today, lol, pop, sqeaky squeaky, and the Battery light comes on, oh well, it was due for one, hopefully this solves the poor lighting problems, Damn that rear bolt on the alt is a bitch, lol

GOT2B GM · February 23, 2006, 08:57:50 PM

:lol: Love the sound effects. Be sure to update the thread after you install your new alternator as my TGP is having the exact same dimming symptoms.

Prospeeder · February 23, 2006, 09:31:31 PM

Hey, is it common for Reman alts to howl or be loud?? My mom and dad have remans in there Grand am/Silverado and they both are VERY loud and make noise, but operate just fine, thats right out of the box

Prospeeder · February 24, 2006, 07:23:44 PM

New altenator didnt solve SHIT, it still dims the same, oh well, prolly my shitty battery i ran down like 10 times down to full discharge in freezing weather, LOL!! Ill admit this Interstate battery has been really good to me, but other than the battery i havnt a clue what else would do it

GangstGP · February 25, 2006, 12:00:12 PM

man I wish I was there, I would fix it for you in like 5 minutes. I love redoing peoples charging systems! It is fun for me because everyone else thinks its a total mystery and it amazes them when I work my magic.

Now you took off the grounds and sanded/ treated them right? like we previously discussed a few months ago? you cant be afraid to get your hands dirty and rip some stuff apart. There is a few other major things to do if you want to stay trouble free. like charge wire and cs-130 d alt. also you need the RIGHT KIND of wire crimpers and heat shrink style butt connectors and dielectric grease and grounding compound and a bunch of wire loom.

Prospeeder · February 25, 2006, 04:35:35 PM

yea i sanded and cleaned some grounds last summer

GangstGP · February 25, 2006, 06:16:52 PM

well maybe the ground to the block is dirty? I removed the whole ground cable that goes from the battery to the block and to the frame. then built a copy of it with gold ends. I used a 4 ga. amp wire and a 8 gauge wire together to replace it all. and a gold sidepost for the battery.

I am actually going to make another one with mylar chrome braid on it.