Hello good sho

[tery]

A new little question has sho-wn itself on my latest 93...I noticed that the red rectangle battery "idiot" light came on on the dash for a few minutes and then went of when I accelerated and I clearly could see that the whole electrical system went back to what seemed normal power levels, the fan blew harder and I think I saw the headlights get brighter. The car has a very new starter and pos battery cable. Battery must be good because it held charge through this last week of -20s weather. I also thought I could see the headlights pulsing with the beat of the engine yesterday.. Do you think I am seeing an alternator that is going bad??
THanks in advance for your ideas and previous learnings,
Terry

 

[Dirk37]

Check the alternator power output connector (where the big red wire connects to the alternator), the wire on mine was extremely corroded near the connector and I had the exact same symptoms. Everything worked perfectly after I fixed it.

 

[tery]

thanks very much, Mr. R. I'll check that a dawn's first light,
All the best,
Terry

 

[tery]

And...did you fix it by replacing the connector or just sort of re-doing the connection inside the connector with fresh wire

 

[Dirk37]

I fixed it pretty ghettoly actually. Since the wire was corroded 6 inches back and I couldn't find any at the store, I had to use 4 pieces of house wire and two crimp connectors to make it work.

So basically, I unstranded and divided the big wire into two smaller wires and put 2 crimp connectors on it, then in each of those I put two pieces of house wire to have 4 wires total. Then I got two crimp ring connectors, and put two of the house wires other end in each of those and connected them to the alternator.

Afterwards I taped the crap out of it with e-tape so it looks like one wire.

Here's what it looks like. Make sure not to make the wires way too long like I did lol

 

[EL SHO]

A similar thing happens with my car. Sometimes when I startup the car and I drive for a few mins the battery idiot light with either flicker or come on for a few mins until I drive a little bit more and then it turns off.
The weird thing is that I know that the Alt keeps on charging because I have an analog voltmeter also in the dash and whenever the light comes on I look at the voltmeter and it is around 13v so it is charging.
Still I'm going to check that wire you guys are talking about.

Is there any other thing that makes the battery light come on?

 

[SHOdded]

I look at the voltmeter and it is around 13v so it is charging.

Should be between 13.5 & 14.5V when idling, definitely see 14+V at higher rpms.

What is your battery voltage when the car is not running? Should be between 12.5 & 12.8 or so V.

 

[Dirk37]

I look at the voltmeter and it is around 13v so it is charging.

Mine was about the same voltage before I fixed it, definitely check that connection first.

Is there any other thing that makes the battery light come on?

As far as I know, the only thing that makes it come on is when the system voltage drops below a certain level.

 

[EL SHO]

Mine was about the same voltage before I fixed it, definitely check that connection first.



As far as I know, the only thing that makes it come on is when the system voltage drops below a certain level.

Thanks, I'll take a loot at that connection. BTW, do you know where that power wire ends/goes to?

Also, sometimes I notice that in the morning the battery light doesn't turn on before cranking the car. The Alt does turn on and starts charging though.

 

[tery]

Now that looks real fancy Dirk...real purdy actually )
We finally warmed up above zero, but now its snowing like a b***ch, so maybe sat eve or sunday I can have a close look at it.
New muffler in the morning, woo Hoo!

 

[Dirk37]

BTW, do you know where that power wire ends/goes to?

I think it goes down to the starter.... Most cars seem to have all of their main electrical junctions there.

Also, sometimes I notice that in the morning the battery light doesn't turn on before cranking the car. The Alt does turn on and starts charging though.

Ok I was incorrect, alldata states that the light illuminates whenever there is no alternator output. That would mean that either the light is burned out or there is a faulty connection to it. I would check the condition of the other connector on the alternator, which is where the charging light is connected to, as well as the main power connection.

I'm thinking perhaps the power to that light comes through the main power connection of the alternator and out the other connector, so if the big power connection is corroded enough there would be no power to illuminate the light.

Now that looks real fancy Dirk...real purdy actually )
We finally warmed up above zero, but now its snowing like a b***ch, so maybe sat eve or sunday I can have a close look at it.
New muffler in the morning, woo Hoo!

Thanks! I was just being cheap and resourceful as usual lol, best of luck fixing it!

 

[TimboSHO]

Ok I was incorrect, alldata states that the light illuminates whenever there is no alternator output.

Alldata is also incorrect. The light illuminates if it's either undercharging or over charging. I can't remember specific values right now, but I had a SHO that charged at about 14.5V and the light would come on. New alternator fixed that one!

But I've also had SHOs that the connection frays at the alternator cable and needs repair.

So, it would be good to check with a multimeter to see what output you are getting when the battery light illuminates, just to be sure.

 

[Dirk37]

The light illuminates if it's either undercharging or over charging.

Interesting, I wonder if that's a SHO specific thing? I once had a Sable where the alternator was charging at 17 volts and there was no indication at all. That is until it fried the security control module and the car would lock and unlock 5 times a second randomly while driving. I still remember almost crashing the first time it happened lol

 

[tery]

That door locking and unlocking fast like that...you must have thought you were in the exorcist movie!!
I was working on replacing my upper rad hose before it got too dark to work this evening and I did just quickly look at the connector on my alt,...it looks fine really, I don't see any corrosion, unless its deeper in the wire itself.
I'll have to investigate further. Got the muffler done, but it is about 3 inches too long...damn, where's the workmanship anymore. I'm gonna take it back there tomorrow..or Monday after work and tell him he's gotta cut out a few inches so that the exhaust ends look the same, like when he got it.

 

[EL SHO]

Alldata is also incorrect. The light illuminates if it's either undercharging or over charging. I can't remember specific values right now, but I had a SHO that charged at about 14.5V and the light would come on. New alternator fixed that one!

But I've also had SHOs that the connection frays at the alternator cable and needs repair.

So, it would be good to check with a multimeter to see what output you are getting when the battery light illuminates, just to be sure.

Lights up when overcharging? whoa.. I'd better check that out then. I don't wanna end with fried wires or electronics!

The normal charging range should be 12.3 to 14.5 volts, is that right?

 

[TimboSHO]

Lights up when overcharging? whoa.. I'd better check that out then. I don't wanna end with fried wires or electronics!

The normal charging range should be 12.3 to 14.5 volts, is that right?

I think you want to stay in the 13V range. Under that is too little, and in the 14V range, my EATC was getting very warm!! I'm sure if you do some searching, or have a manual it might give you a range.

 

[beaudeen]

Lights up when overcharging? whoa.. I'd better check that out then. I don't wanna end with fried wires or electronics!

The normal charging range should be 12.3 to 14.5 volts, is that right?

I went through an over charge condition a few years back.
this may help you out.

http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=118583