Drivability

[nwilson44]

Hey guys, in having some issues. My voltage is dropping intermittently causing low lights, poor throttle response, and it runs like crap. The idle is super choppy and when I unplug the mass air flow it behaves, kind of. I went to change it and nothing happened. Did the same thing with a new one. I also put a ac delco alternator and an optima battery on and t does the same thing. Some help is appreciated!

[LETZRIDE]

Re: Drivability

when does it do it? under what types of conditions?

[nwilson44]

Re: Drivability

when does it do it? under what types of conditions?

Under braking or when it's sitting. I got it to idle decently with the maf plugged in but it stopped. P

[LETZRIDE]

Re: Drivability

could be the exciter wire that plugs into the back of the alternator. Mine was brittle and caused similar issues (thin red wire that goes in the top of the alt)

Check that wire and see if it is brittle and try and trace it back as far as you can.

[nwilson44]

Re: Drivability

What was the fix? Not the battery cable but the sensor right?

[ssms5411]

Re: Drivability

Another thing you might want to check is the belt tensionor to see if the belt is slipping causing the voltage to drop.

[techsan23]

Re: Drivability

If you pull the pass side kick panel there is a white connector with about 12 pins or so. Disconnect it and on the lower left hand corner of the engine side of the connector is a red wire. This is the wire that runs from the back of the alternator to your voltmeter in the gauge cluster if you want to test it.

[nwilson44]

Re: Drivability

The gauge is accurate. I had it tested. I just don't know why it's acting up. The voltage never used to drop until the idling issues started.

[LETZRIDE]

Re: Drivability

the fix was replacing that wire

[nwilson44]

Re: Drivability

Well She still isnt happy. Have no idea whats going on.

[htmabe]

Re: Drivability

My car did the same thing you state but all I did was a new alternator and all was fixed. You said you already replaced the alternator so I kind of ruled that out. Starting to sound as if the regulator rectifier in the alternator is bad. When mine went bad it created all kinds of problems with blown bulbs misfire etc. Mine was a new one also and it was the regulator inside the alternator. Good news is brand new ones were a dime a dozen at the junk yard. I just picked one that looked new and said Altima on it. That's the o'reilly rebuild part.

[techsan23]

Re: Drivability

Did you pull the connector for that exciter wire at the alternator and test the voltage? You'll want to test it with the engine running. You can get an ohm reading from end to end on the main battery to alt cable to test connectivity. Did you have the alt and battery tested? It could even be a ground issue. Electrical problems can be really annoying.

[nwilson44]

Re: Drivability

Did you pull the connector for that exciter wire at the alternator and test the voltage? You'll want to test it with the engine running. You can get an ohm reading from end to end on the main battery to alt cable to test connectivity. Did you have the alt and battery tested? It could even be a ground issue. Electrical problems can be really annoying.

I dont have an Ohmeter. I just replaced my battery with a yellow top optima. I replaced my ground cable and it quieted down but didnt fix it.

[nwilson44]

Re: Drivability

My car did the same thing you state but all I did was a new alternator and all was fixed. You said you already replaced the alternator so I kind of ruled that out. Starting to sound as if the regulator rectifier in the alternator is bad. When mine went bad it created all kinds of problems with blown bulbs misfire etc. Mine was a new one also and it was the regulator inside the alternator. Good news is brand new ones were a dime a dozen at the junk yard. I just picked one that looked new and said Altima on it. That's the o'reilly rebuild part.

Yeah this is my second AC Delco alternator, and its supposed to be a good one.

[htmabe]

Re: Drivability

Guess that rules out the simple fix. yellow top optimas are awesome run it on my race car with no alternator, lots of reserve power.
Ohmeters are cheap and if a new ground wire calmed it down sounds like your headed the right direction. I would buy an ohmmeter and check that exciter wire but all he said to check was continuity.. Personally never heard of an exciter wire till this thread but it can be another thing to rule out if nothing else.
Can't believe your cars not throwing a code like knock retard or maf or the finickey coils. Harmonic balancer good and tight? No new one for a case relearn? Fuel filter clean? Fuel pump pressure where it belongs?Sometimes problems can be traced back to last worked on. What's the last thing you worked on? Just throwing some crap out there like maybe its not electrical.What ever it is it isn't obivious