Thanks very much Ferret... was just doing a lot of this just now, I'm getting better at the multimeter. Actually I have two now... one works well, the other doesn't work on the 10A setting (errr... is there an embarrassed smilie?) but it still comes in handy...Originally Posted by Ferret
I do have an aftermarket stereo head unit and cd changer but nothingand it never gave me trouble in my old car, also it worked fine with the old alternator.
The reason why the fuse kept blowing on the meter is because something resets itself every time i connect it so there is a surge of about 2A it looks like upon contact with the terminals with the 10A tester (normal i hope?). After that drops (takes a second or so) I can connect the <315mA tester, then remove the 10A tester and get a decent reading.
The overnight voltage drop was still there but keep in mind the little terminal was still connected... sure did suck doing that at 4am this morning with a flashlight.... got covered in rustproofing again oh god i hate that stuff.
here's what i got today on the draw test today...
everything connected ... 500mA
...glovebox closed (d'oh!) ...150mA
main terminal on alternator removed... 150mA
small terminal on alternator removed... 20mA
aha!
so i reconnected the alternator... 20mA wtf?
so that's all i had time for if i wanted to get it tested today, so i took it out and told the guy to make sure he let it heat up for a while before he tested it... hope to get it back today.
i'm guessing the alternator develops a short when it warms up which goes away if it's disconnected for a bit... definitely a guess....
so... assuming it's the alt, do i piss around with another a/m alternator or do i tell these guys to stuff it and go to someone who sells bosch? - quite a price difference... paid around $270 for this one (...these ones i mean) IIRC bosch would set me back around $450 i think.
bmg- when you finally get a good one does it STAY good???
in hindsight guess i should have changed the regulator and brushes on the old (bosch) one but it really crapped out 100% and it was very old and covered in road ick.
noob question #godonlyknows... can i put a hella/bosch regulator/brushes on an aftermarket alternator?
*-oh yeah, almost forgot.. when i reconnected the battery after removing the alternator the craziest thing happened, I think it's just a freak thing and not related though. The locks just kept opening and closing like they were possessed, up/down/up/down really fast. I looked at all of them they weren't stuck or anything just locking and unlocking perfectly in sync. I didn't want to jam anything so I disconnected the battery, trying to time it with them being open but i timed it badly and they stopped on 'locked'. I was worried b/c I have never been able to use the manual unlock on these doors (managed it on my old original doors). Anyway, when i reconnected the battery they stayed locked but thankfully the key worked.... freaked me out! I think my car is possessed... it eats alternators...
then it laughs at me...
Reply With Quote