3G alternator and battery problem
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3G alternator and battery problem
Thought my 3G went bad. Was heading to the jy, so I grabbed another one. Same problem.. After a jump start, the voltage settles to the batt voltage, about 11.5 and SLOWLY drifts up to about 12.6 (like 3 minutes).
Anything that draws current (headlights) slowly drops the voltage back to about 11.5. Battery is about 4 months old, 650 CCA.
Take both alts to autozone and they both test just fine.
Heavy gauge wires. Clean crimp connections. I even bolted a 6ga gnd wire from the alt case to the block. I have studied the 3G hookup diagrams till I am blue in the face.
I am clearly doing something really stupid. Bad connector? The belt is not super tight and I'm at the limit of adjusting it. No squealing. Could the belt be slipping when a load gets applied? I'm clueless.
Anything that draws current (headlights) slowly drops the voltage back to about 11.5. Battery is about 4 months old, 650 CCA.
Take both alts to autozone and they both test just fine.
Heavy gauge wires. Clean crimp connections. I even bolted a 6ga gnd wire from the alt case to the block. I have studied the 3G hookup diagrams till I am blue in the face.
I am clearly doing something really stupid. Bad connector? The belt is not super tight and I'm at the limit of adjusting it. No squealing. Could the belt be slipping when a load gets applied? I'm clueless.
Last edited by nlareau; Jan 1, 2012 at 06:04 PM. Reason: Typo
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1) Verify the 3G yellow wire loops back onto either the charge post or connects somewhere near the + post of the solenoid.
2) Double check you have the Green/Red from the 3G connected to the factory Green/Red or to a KEY-ON 12+ volt source.
Other than those two things, that's all there is to it. The green/red (or red/green) is the important one, once it sees voltage it "excites" or turns on the alternator.
Josh
2) Double check you have the Green/Red from the 3G connected to the factory Green/Red or to a KEY-ON 12+ volt source.
Other than those two things, that's all there is to it. The green/red (or red/green) is the important one, once it sees voltage it "excites" or turns on the alternator.
Josh
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Yellow connects to +batt at the starter solenoid. Grn-red wire connects to +batt run connection on solenoid. If I remove this wire with the car running I can definitely feel and hear the load change.
So i have a slipping belt or a bad connector, right? That's all that is left. Also, since it used to work fine, belt stretching would be the best bet. I think.
So i have a slipping belt or a bad connector, right? That's all that is left. Also, since it used to work fine, belt stretching would be the best bet. I think.
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Guys, I appreciate the help, but there is obviously something I'm not getting..I thought if the grn-red wire was on the 'run' terminal of the solenoid that that was the best place to put it. What am I missing?
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There is no "RUN" only + from the battery, large lug to starter, "S" terminal to engage starter and the "I" terminal to supply full battery voltage to the coil during crank.
Red/green needs a full and constant power source.
Josh
Red/green needs a full and constant power source.
Josh
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From: Stanley, VA
EDIT: Josh beat me to it.
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The "I" terminal is only hot when the solenoid is engaged, and the starter is cranking. It's only purpose is for the coil start bypass circuit. It has nothing to do with the charging system. As soon as you release the key from START and the solenoid dis-engages, the "I" terminal goes open circuit.
GREEN with a RED stripe needs to be hot-in-RUN. You don't want it connected to hot at all times because this will dump current through the alternator rotor windings with the engine off, and drain the battery.
GREEN with a RED stripe needs to be hot-in-RUN. You don't want it connected to hot at all times because this will dump current through the alternator rotor windings with the engine off, and drain the battery.
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All too often someone posts a question or problem, several posters offer responses and either:
A) Never hear from the OP again
B) The OP gets offended or biligerant for whatever reason
Josh
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What's awesome is you hung in there, asked more questions and for what it's worth looks like the problem is figured out.
All too often someone posts a question or problem, several posters offer responses and either:
A) Never hear from the OP again
B) The OP gets offended or biligerant for whatever reason
Josh
All too often someone posts a question or problem, several posters offer responses and either:
A) Never hear from the OP again
B) The OP gets offended or biligerant for whatever reason
Josh
.
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Got that right. I'm certainly 
guilty of that at times.Especially if you have B, followed by A and get a raging case of C.
Josh