dead ALT

[slow6]

I went to drive last night
the voltmeter on the "Gage" said like 9 volts.
So I immediately thought "dead alt".
Today I tried charging the battery for 30-45mins under 6 amps.
Started it and it said the same thing.

So I unplugged the negative on the battery and it immediately died.
I know I got my 2 wires on the alt hooked up right!

What would kill my alt?
putting a heavy load on it? (like AEM WB, 800w Crossfire system, Humount, etc)
Would disconnecting and reconnecting the charger kill the alt?
My grandfather said it would
thnx

[97rs4life]

Re: dead ALT

just over time they go out and systems will make that process speed up a bit. I had to replace mine this summer, all of a sudden I noticed the check gauges light on and my volts where below halfway mark.

[Rob Bell]

Re: dead ALT

Never never ever unhook the battery cables while the car is running. That is an old trick mechanics used to use to sell alternators. Doing that can kill your PCM too. Your car will ALWAYS die when you pull the battery cable, because the alternator depends on some power from the battery to create the magnetic field that allows it to produce electricity. Pulling the cable breaks the circuit, stops the alternator from producing power, and since there is no battery backup power, the car dies.

Your alternator probably just died, and you need a new one. You can take it to get tested, though. They can die without warning.

[slow6]

Re: dead ALT

thanks homey

[3.4 slow to go]

Re: dead ALT

interesting, i pulled the batt once on my 200SX and it stsill ran, well, I just let it sit there w/out driving it or stepping on the brake pedal. but that was way back when.

[homedog119]

Re: dead ALT

My friend is on his 5 alt for his cavalier i think he might have a problem

[slow6]

Re: dead ALT

i feel more responsible for the alt death...
since i just did my engine rebuild, its only on 32k miles