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View Full Version : possible alternator issue or battery?

awd-drifter
08-29-2009, 08:46 PM
Well, just yesterday night I was coming back from work. I had the HID lights on and suddenly they went off. Car was still driving perfect, lights on dash did not dim. Luckly my house is about miles from work. I open the hood and see if the HID failed on me...nope, Battery is spitting out it's liquid, not a huge puddle but small enough to blame the battery.
Here's the thing though, I was just taking it for a drive today(no HID, no dash dim) and while on a small highway, my thermo gauge went near the first line of the "H" mark. Left the car to cool down for about 4 hours and checked my coolant. Coolant is still FULL. Weird thing is that whenever my volt gauge is full (14volts) during highway cruise, the thermo goes near the 1st line of "H". When volt gauge is at 11-12 volts, thermo goes back to normal. ??? I just replaced the Alternator 2 weeks ago. Battery is leaking. I'm putting my money on the battery, but i need help just to make sure it's the battery and not anything electrical. Thanks!

Cliff Notes:
- Thermo goes to "H" when crusing @ full alty voltage
- Thermo returns to normal when alty voltage is at 11-12
- Battery is spitting out it's liquids
viridionplague
08-29-2009, 09:06 PM
well regardless you should replace your battery, and if the problem persists then start looking elsewhere.
4g63tcrazy
08-29-2009, 09:10 PM
Start with battery. If that doesn't help you may have gotten a faulty alternator.
viridionplague
08-29-2009, 09:13 PM
it could be that the voltage regulator in the alternator is bad causing it to overcharge the battery
Kevin 1G Drummer
08-30-2009, 09:08 AM
well regardless you should replace your battery, and if the problem persists then start looking elsewhere.
+1. After you replace the battery you should throw a dvom on the alternator and the battery to see what you're charging at and how much of that charge is making it to the battery.
awd-drifter
08-30-2009, 11:55 AM
I'm getting the battery replaced today from my brother. It's a sam's club battery so I'm basically going to get a new battery. I'm really hoping the voltage regulator is not screwed up because that's what happened in the previous alty and that's also what happened to my last battery i had.
slowbubblecar
08-30-2009, 01:13 PM
I'm getting the battery replaced today from my brother. It's a sam's club battery so I'm basically going to get a new battery. I'm really hoping the voltage regulator is not screwed up because that's what happened in the previous alty and that's also what happened to my last battery i had.

If you don't know how to test it your self, some of the Oriley places have a box where they can test the voltage while the car is running.
awd-drifter
08-31-2009, 03:15 PM
well, just got back from school and the battery is pissing it's acids on it's surface. smells like rotten eggs. *sighs* I'll go check the voltage at Oreily's after work. damn alty.
4g63tcrazy
08-31-2009, 05:35 PM
If you just bought the alternator 2 weeks ago shouldnt there still be a warrenty on it?
awd-drifter
08-31-2009, 08:43 PM
^^yeah. I have life time warranty from Oreily's. But it's annoying changing the alty for the 3rd time this year lol. I haven't had the time to check the alty yet at Oreily's yet though. I basically have "lifetime" warranty on the battery since it's from Sam's Club also.