alternator acting up

[Nathan Winters]

My car did the same thing, it was the cable from the starter/alternator to the battery.  It runs 2gauge from the battery to the firewall, then down to 4 gauge through the firewall to the starter / alternator.  The splice fails electrically and does exactly what you describe.
I cut the wire to the battery cable about 1 foot from the splice, the wire was in good shape.  It then spiced in a piece of 2 or 0 gauge that I got from a stereo shop to the starter.

http://www.sjmautotechnik.com/trouble_shooting/elec.html#chg




----- Original Message ----
From: Kneale Brownson <knealeski at sbcglobal.net>
To: 200q20v at audifans.com
Sent: Saturday, June 23, 2007 5:58:33 PM
Subject: alternator acting up

I'm in Columbus, OH, planning to drive back home tomorrow (Sunday) to Traverse City, MI, but today the voltage meter was pointing to 12 volts intermittently.  It would show its normal operating position some of the time, especially if I wasn't operating any big draw like HVAC, but then would go back to centered on 12.  Seems to "work" best if I avoid using power.
   
  So I presume the alternator is failing.  It's been several years since the last alternator death.
   
  How far can I get on battery power alone if it pukes on my 400 mile run tomorrow if I'm not using anything other than the ignition/fuel pump?
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