Charging trouble
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Charging trouble
I have been having problems with my charging system. Replaced the altrenator ant continued to have the problem, took the altrenator back to NAPA it is putting out 14.5 amps my volt meter shaows a constant draw. Any one have an idea?
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Like 250 said it should be putting that out in Volts. Your amp reading should be somewhere between 80-125 or so if I remember correctly. Check you maintenence manual for your model PU or look on alt for correct amp amount. Less amps is OK than rated if it is older PU or have lots of miles, just not more than 10-20 % for normal operation.
I had a wire on alt plug that had rubbed loose from jiggling against the hood heat shield for several years. The alt light would come on at sproradic times or go on & off fast. Check wires & clean contacts from alt to & from batteries to frame. If you mean constant draw when ignition off then you have a short circuit in electric system. Probably in something other than main circuits when you look at your electric schematic in manual. You would definetely know if a short was in main or high volt system!
I had a wire on alt plug that had rubbed loose from jiggling against the hood heat shield for several years. The alt light would come on at sproradic times or go on & off fast. Check wires & clean contacts from alt to & from batteries to frame. If you mean constant draw when ignition off then you have a short circuit in electric system. Probably in something other than main circuits when you look at your electric schematic in manual. You would definetely know if a short was in main or high volt system!
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You have checked the batteries, right? My posts assume the batteries & alt have passed tests.
Just thought of something that happened a few years ago on a van. A pack rat got under the hood and chewed one small wire apart. I couldn't find it until I bought a small multimeter. If the smaller things like checking wires for conection, etc don't work test the charging circuit for Volts all along the path (try not to pierce wires). Take it somewhere for this if not experienced. You can hurt yourself tracing electrical paths.
Good luck and post the answer for future ref in case it is something else than pure electrical path prob.
Just thought of something that happened a few years ago on a van. A pack rat got under the hood and chewed one small wire apart. I couldn't find it until I bought a small multimeter. If the smaller things like checking wires for conection, etc don't work test the charging circuit for Volts all along the path (try not to pierce wires). Take it somewhere for this if not experienced. You can hurt yourself tracing electrical paths.
Good luck and post the answer for future ref in case it is something else than pure electrical path prob.
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Hay Oklahoma, some times the simplist things are the best I replaced both batteries and was then reading 14.5 volt with my amp metre. I guess the batteries were both so low they must have been sucking the vo;tage as fast as it could come out of the alt.
thank you for your help.
thank you for your help.
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