88 5ksq Charging Problem

[George Butler]

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Hello all,

I have an 88 5ksq BTDT charging system question.  Here's the scenario:

"Dad, the Battery Voltage Too High/Low light keeps lighting up, and my ligh=
ts flicker"

1=2E Tested voltage at battery with engine on  (3k rpm) ...whoa!16 volts!

2=2E Replaced voltage regulator, repeated step 1, voltage now at 15 volts..=
. (still a bit high I thought)

3=2E Have alternator bench tested... assured by technician that, aside from=
 miniscule fluctuation after 10 minutes, Bosch alternator "could last anoth=
er five years".  Technician suggested that I check grounds.

4=2E Tested continuity of main ground between firewall and valve cover stud=
,  looked pretty solid, but had that "powdery" deposit in a few places...di=
dn't ohm-out wonderfully either,...relpaced unit with brand-new ground stra=
p=2E

5=2E Tested voltage  (3k rpm) at battery again...still at 15 volts.

6=2E Took car for one-half hour test drive on highway.... no problems... I =
thought... until perpetual "check front brake pad" indicator dimmed (pads a=
re almost new) when I turned the headlights on.

7=2E Gave car back to son...who drove it to work the following morning...wh=
ile the battery was dying as he was driving it down the Mass Pike...where t=
he car died.

8=2E Car back in yard, battery re-charged, re-started car with no problem.

9=2E Checked voltage off back of alternator, 14.7 volts....voltage at batte=
ry...12.2 volts...obviously battery is not charging.

10. Checked continuity between main lug on alternator and positive battery =
cable (disconnected)...solid short on 1K setting.  Checked for short betwee=
n battery ground cable and battery positive cable....nothing!

11.  Had battery tested (2-yr old Exide...) again everything looked fine.

What am I missing?  I'm about to go outside and clean all the connection po=
ints on the starter... I have to admit,  as straight-forward a process as t=
his should be...I'm stumped!
HELP!  TIA

Regards,

George B.
Massachusetts



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