Re: Altenator on Fritz-?

[T Berk <tberk@mindspring.com>]

Tell the Mech. to jump in the lake, or think up some thing better.

Given:

Car won't start from battery, prob. because it won't hold a charge. 
But, the Alt puts out 13-14 volts.

Hmmm.

Dude,  
clean and recondition them there grounding points and cables. Pour some
clean, distilled water into the battery, even if it's maintenance free,
but only if it's low. You'll have to check.

It sounds like enough electricity is not getting through the system, if
the battery is weak it may not be getting enough charge during normal
operation. How much voltage is measured while the car is running, while
the lights and everything are off?  13.5 volts or more? 

Bottom line, if the Alt is putting out 14 volts you shouldn't just
replace it, the problem lies elsewhere.

TBerk


germancarlists@webtv.net wrote:
> 
> Hi
> 
> Please check out email below.  Thanks 4 any replies.  Oh yeah car is
> still for sale.
> 
>   ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Subject: Fwd: Altenator on Fritz?
> Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 22:32:38 -0800 (PST)
> From: njomele hong <njomhong@yahoo.com>
> To: germancarlists@webtv.net
> 
> _________________________________________________________
> DO YOU YAHOO!?
> Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
> 
>   ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Subject: Altenator on Fritz?
> Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1999 01:29:43 -0500 (EST)
> From: xyzip@webtv.net (Kokobware)
> To: drivers-wanted@wso.williams.edu, njomhong@yahoo.com
> 
> Hello
> 
> I have a problem starting my car. An 1987 scirocco 16V.  I personally
> have checked the output from the altenator and it checked out ok at
> 14-15 volts.  I didn't have the the time to fool around with the car so
> I took it to a mechanic who does pretty good work for me and my wife
> thus far.   I was able to jump start the car and it started imediatly
> (after i connected the negative pole to a chassis ground )  I informed
> the mechanic that the car was jump started.  He tells me today that the
> altenator is caput.  I know for  certain that my battery was way run
> down if not totally dead.  I am not an electrical expert but if your
> battery and altenator are both shot I don't think the car should run at
> all.  Please let me know if I need to discuss this further with the
> mechanic.  He quoted me 258 for a rebuilt bosch 90A altenator.  I should
> have spent the time to retorque all the connections....