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AZVWlover
Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2009
Posts: 142
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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 Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 5:43 pm Post subject: Battery/Alternator help...Don't know where to start. |
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Ok guys, Here's the situation. I have just finished restoring a 59 and it was previously converted to 12v. The engine runs great and there are no problems there. Here is the issue:
The car will barely turn over and if it gets enough going, it will fire up. BUT, its' been killing the battery. When we attach jumper cables and jump it from on another car, it barely turns over. So We returned the battery (only one month old) and put brand new one in. So just now it barely turned over at first but then fired up. I took it for a spin around the block, LITERALLY! And pulled into garage and turned it off. I then tired to turn it back on, and the car battery is DEAD. Barely cranked and then stopped. That's TWO brand new batteries in 2 months. Now, my gut says there is something wrong with the Alternator, but I'm not sure.
So can you experts give me your thoughts and the easiest way to test it and see if it's the alternator? IF it is, I can replace it pretty easily but don't want incure the expense until i'm sure.
Thanks for the help.
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itskyle
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Joined: October 04, 2013
Posts: 634
Location: Plainfield, IN
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| Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 6:58 pm Post subject: Traditional testing |
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Would mean disconnecting the battery after the car is running.
If car stays running, not alternator issue.
If car stops, alternator issue.
Hope this helps.
Kyle
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RareAir
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Joined: May 11, 2002
Posts: 14577
Location: 18 miles North of the border
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| Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 7:34 pm Post subject: Re: Traditional testing |
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| itskyle wrote: |
Would mean disconnecting the battery after the car is running.
If car stays running, not alternator issue.
If car stops, alternator issue. |
X2. The only use for the battery is to start the car. Once running, all electrical is fed by the charging system.
Check the tension of your fan belt. Too loose and the alternator wont operate properly
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Aussiebug
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Joined: June 03, 2002
Posts: 2162
Location: Adelaide Australia
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| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 3:30 pm Post subject: |
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Itskyle and Rareair....
NEVER disconnect the battery in an alternator equipped car whilst the engine is running - it's very likely you'll cook the alternator.
A Generator equipped car can run for a short time on generator alone without damage, but not an alternator car.
AZvwlover, read this article on our web site for a simple diagnosis.
www.vw-resource.com/generator.html (it covers alternators too).
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Longrifle
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Joined: August 12, 2010
Posts: 313
Location: Chino Hills, CA
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| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 3:46 pm Post subject: |
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Do you have a volt meter? Check your battery across the terminals with the engine off. You should have about 12.5+ volts or so, and 14.5+ or so with the engine running if the alternator is working properly. I doubt your fresh battery took a dump and will not take a charge.
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OLD VW NUT
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Joined: February 23, 2011
Posts: 2776
Location: High Desert of Washington 98823
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| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 10:01 pm Post subject: Re: Traditional testing |
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| RareAir wrote: |
| itskyle wrote: |
Would mean disconnecting the battery after the car is running.
If car stays running, not alternator issue.
If car stops, alternator issue. |
X2. The only use for the battery is to start the car. Once running, all electrical is fed by the charging system.
Check the tension of your fan belt. Too loose and the alternator wont operate properly |
This is OK advice for a generator equipped car - for an alternator not so good. I had a battery terminal come off while driving a 65 corvair - it blew every light (it was nighttime) that was on and fried the final transistors in my Cobra CB radio. While it didn't fry the alternator right then it did cause it to go south within a few months - had to replace that too!
Never remove the battery terminals on an alternator equipped car unless you have spare money to fix everything that gets fried. Test it as Longrifle mentioned. With the proper electrical test equipment.
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vamram 
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Joined: March 08, 2012
Posts: 7304
Location: NOVA
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| Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 3:59 am Post subject: |
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Also, you can have the alternator and battery tested at Advanced Auto or some such FLOPS. They'll do that for free, but you have to get the car there first.
Victor
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