Evo GeneralDiscuss any generalized technical Evo related topics that may not fit into the other forums.
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hey guys,
I posted a few hours ago for battery question.. but I guess I need to also consider if my alternator is going bad.
About a week ago, I finished installing my audio system, then two days ago I went into a store for 30 minutes and car was dead. I had it jumped and drove another 2 hours to home. Then yesterday morning I tried to start her and it was dead again. I guess I can jump it again to go to autozone and check the battery for free, but do they also have a tool to check my alternator?
Any help is appreciated!
If its running ok after jumping it then is probably just the battery. If you take the jumper cables off and the car dies then it has a bad alternator
__________________ Stock block/turbo w/meth
380whp 391wtq 30psi tuned by Chris Black at AMS
Old setup. Stock block w/head studs
FP black/meth 35psi tuned by Chris Black at AMS 508WHP 423WTQ Best pass 11.348@125.97
last set up Strictly Modified built short block/bottom end.
Rest of Eng assembled, installed and tuned by me. Fp black, E85
585whp & 480tq
Best pass so far 11.093@131.44 on street tires spinning
If its running ok after jumping it then is probably just the battery. If you take the jumper cables off and the car dies then it has a bad alternator
This ^ (and sometimes a loose cable can cause this oddness)
Plus, yes autozone can test your battery and alternator.
Also, you gots a stick, you don't need someone to jump you! Roll start that bugger...I did it this weekend when my battery died.
Also, Sears sells Diehard batteries, I always buy Diehard gold. About 100 bucks, warranty for 3 years though, and if you take it back in before 3 years because it failed, they replace the battery and start the warranty all over again.....They even gave me a gift card with 25 bucks on it because I paid 125 2.5 years ago, but they were on sale now for 100. I love sears...
Sounds like just a bad battery. You can check the alternator yourself if you have a multimeter. Start the car, or jump it, and attach the multimeter to the positive and negative of the battery. This will show you the voltage that the alternator is making. 14v is the money zone. Even 13.8v+ will pass on most testing machines.
If you also would like, jump the car and take it to an Advance Auto Parts. They will test the battery and alternator for free. Takes about 5 min and they will also give you a print out of the results.
Good luck. Start pricing an Optima battery now, as that sounds like your problem.
__________________
~Joe~
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ted B
Boasting how much power one makes with a factory shortblock is like a skydiver boasting how close to the ground he waits before opening the chute. Sooner or later there's a smackdown coming, and it's going to be messy when it arrives.
thanks guys for your comments. I will try to check the battery with my multimeter and see what i come up with. Also, i'm leaning towards the Diehard plats for my next battery.
sounds like a draw....something you installed is still drawing power, to cause your battery to go dead. i would start by unhooking your system that you installed first or while the car is off test the battery. should have 9.5-12v's then do it while its running and that will be your alternator reading. should be between 13.5-14.5volts any more or less is bad.
sounds like a draw....something you installed is still drawing power, to cause your battery to go dead. i would start by unhooking your system that you installed first or while the car is off test the battery. should have 9.5-12v's then do it while its running and that will be your alternator reading. should be between 13.5-14.5volts any more or less is bad.
I was guessing his audio system was putting more strain on the battery and caused it to fail, but...what kind of stuff did you install? Amp? wired to what and how, like jnut is somewhat asking.
Easy multimeter test would be run the car, check voltage, if it's 14, but when you cut it off it goes to like 8v you know it's the battery. If it's 14....then slowly drops to 12...10...8 over time, something is draining it.
sounds like a draw....something you installed is still drawing power, to cause your battery to go dead. i would start by unhooking your system that you installed first or while the car is off test the battery. should have 9.5-12v's then do it while its running and that will be your alternator reading. should be between 13.5-14.5volts any more or less is bad.
good thought, normally things like this arn't coincidences
Turn the car on, run it for 15 minutes, after that pop the hood and take off the battery cables. If it continues to run it is the battery, if it starts sputtering or shuts off completely, it is the alternator.
Also when I had my 04 Ram HEMI pickup I was running an 800 watt Fosgate amp and noticed whenever the bass hit the lights would dim a bit. This was because it was over loading the alternator. So depending on what kind of system you have (power wise) you have to be weary on how much power you have draining from the electrical system. If 800 watts can push a full size pickup to the max imagine what it can do to the teeny alternator on the Evo.
__________________
TBR FL Squadron: Blue Ranger
PM me about local meets in the MD/DC/NOVA area. Trying to get some peeps together for regular meets during the upcoming car season.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Smike
I'm strangely ok with it. They ate the meat. Not really interested if they ****ed it before eating it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nsomniac
What happened is there? There was an incredibly powerful crystal governed by celestial beings. One group of beings got too greedy, and the the crystal splintered a small purple shard. The celestial beings were split apart into their two inner sides. One was bad, and one was good. New off topic is the good, uninteresting side, and TBR is the bad, power hungry side. Until a Gelfling comes along and fulfills the prophecy, Evom will be locked in turmoil.
Turn the car on, run it for 15 minutes, after that pop the hood and take off the battery cables. If it continues to run it is the battery, if it starts sputtering or shuts off completely, it is the alternator.
Altough this does work its not good for your alternator. If you do this make sure all the accesoris are off so the alternator doesnt get hit with a big load.
__________________ Stock block/turbo w/meth
380whp 391wtq 30psi tuned by Chris Black at AMS
Old setup. Stock block w/head studs
FP black/meth 35psi tuned by Chris Black at AMS 508WHP 423WTQ Best pass 11.348@125.97
last set up Strictly Modified built short block/bottom end.
Rest of Eng assembled, installed and tuned by me. Fp black, E85
585whp & 480tq
Best pass so far 11.093@131.44 on street tires spinning
Altough this does work its not good for your alternator. If you do this make sure all the accesoris are off so the alternator doesnt get hit with a big load.
I figured it would be kind of a do or die thing. Mechanic taught me this years ago and has worked every time. But yes, make sure everything is off.
__________________
TBR FL Squadron: Blue Ranger
PM me about local meets in the MD/DC/NOVA area. Trying to get some peeps together for regular meets during the upcoming car season.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Smike
I'm strangely ok with it. They ate the meat. Not really interested if they ****ed it before eating it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nsomniac
What happened is there? There was an incredibly powerful crystal governed by celestial beings. One group of beings got too greedy, and the the crystal splintered a small purple shard. The celestial beings were split apart into their two inner sides. One was bad, and one was good. New off topic is the good, uninteresting side, and TBR is the bad, power hungry side. Until a Gelfling comes along and fulfills the prophecy, Evom will be locked in turmoil.
