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#1
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Alternator problems
I need some help....
Here's the situation: 1. One day, my battery started dying with little or no warning. I did NOT get the flashing dash lights symptom. I got a new battery and had the alternator tested. The alternator was shot. I had it rebuilt at an alternator shop, and reinstalled it, and all was as it should be. 2. About a month later, the dash light symptom started (steering, battery, stop lamp, brake, abs lights flashing). I have previously learned about this symptom, so I knew it was the alternator. 3. I took the alternator back to the rebuild shop, and it tested fine. I put it back in, still had flashing lights, and ordered a new one online. 4. Yesterday, I installed the new one (bosch), and did the alternator wire mod. After running for a bit, the lights started up again. After awhile, they just stayed on all the time. After checking the voltage, I know that it is not charging while the dash lights are all on. My guess (and my hope) is that it's the connecter that plugs into the alternator. I can clearly see that it's in bad shape, but the wires do appear to still be intact going into the connector. But I know I trashed it a bit trying to get it out 3 different times. Does anyone know of any other reason besides that connector that might cause the flashing dash light symptom with a brand new alternator installed? Also, while I had the battery disconnected, I went ahead and touched the battery cables together, then left it disconnected for a couple hours. So, the ECU should be discharged and reset. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated, as I now have 2 SVX's that I can't drive! Thanks
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Dave |
#2
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Re: Alternator problems
Quote:
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Randy Johnson 3rd Registered Member 02-21-2001 First Member to Reach 10,000 Posts First to arrive at the very first Reading Meet Subaru Ambassador 1992 SVX PPG Pace Car Replica 110+k 1993 White Impreza L 240+K miles 2001 Legacy Outback Limited Sedan 250+K miles 2013 Deep Indigo Pearl Legacy 3.6R 49+K miles "Reading is my favorite Holiday" Mike Davis -- at Reading VI |
#3
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Re: Alternator problems
[QUOTE]Originally posted by driverdave
[B]I need some help.... Here's the situation: 4. Yesterday, I installed the new one (bosch), and did the alternator wire mod. After running for a bit, the lights started up again. After awhile, they just stayed on all the time. After checking the voltage, I know that it is not charging while the dash lights are all on. My guess (and my hope) is that it's the connecter that plugs into the alternator. I can clearly see that it's in bad shape, but the wires do appear to still be intact going into the connector. But I know I trashed it a bit trying to get it out 3 different times. Does it charge with the dash lights off ? If so the problem is rather obscure. You say you have "trashed the connector a bit" ! If you mean you have damaged things to the extent that the connections are faulty it stands to reason that this is your problem.
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Trevor, New Zealand. As a child, on cold mornings I gladly stood in cowpats to warm my bare feet, but I detest bull$hit! |
#4
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I had the same problem a while ago, after all it came out to be the ground to the battery I installed awire from the battery ground to the screw behind the battry on the fender and it works great.
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#5
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When I did the alternator wire mod, I only did a positve wire. I haven't done the ground wire to the compressor mount yet. Perhaps I should do that first.
I'm pretty much planning on replacing that connecter no matter what. But with the way my luck has been lately, I wanna have some other ideas ready if it doesn't fix it. Thanks for the info so far...I'll let you know if it works.
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Dave |
#6
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I'm gonna ramble on here a bit, see if anything makes sense...
Either replace or remove the cable between the neg post of the battery and the body. On my 92 the connection to the frame is right there in front of the battery and the part bolted to the frame had more corrosion than any other connection point in the system. Just take the ends loose, clean them and their mount points, and reattach as a first trial (that's a free step). I suggest this as it's battery to frame ground that anchors ground for all the rest of the system, i.e., dash lights etc. The other ground wire runs back to near the starter and is already 4-gauge, so I have no doubts as to the advantage of running another wire to the A/C compressor mount. Also, I believe the battery to engine cable is probably good as you report no starting or running problems with the engine. Still can't hurt to remove and clean connections. If this doesn't fix it then I would use a VOM to trace out all three wires to the alternator. When I changed out my alternator I checked the wires and they had very brittle insulation - I guess the heat had cooked them over time. |
#7
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I would do all of the wires in the Alt upgrade. The ground is a very important one too!
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. Earl .... ... .... ><SVX(*> Subaru Ambassador [COLOR=”silver”]1992 Tri Color L[/COLOR] ~45K (06/91) #2430 1992 Dark Teal LS-L ~184K (05/91) #0739 1992 Claret LS-L ~196K (05/91) #0831 1992 Pearl LS-L ~103K (06/91) #1680 1992 Pearl LS-L ~151K (06/91) #2229 1992 Dark Teal LS ~150K (07/91) #3098 (parts car) 1992 White LS-L ~139K (08/92) #6913 1993 25th AE ~98K (02/93) #164 1993 25th AE ~58K (02/93) #176 1993 25th AE ~107K (02/93) #215 1993 25th AE ~162K (02/93) #223 1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~124K (1/94) #2408 1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~144K (10/93) #1484 1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~68K (10/93) #1525 1994 Barcelona Red LSi ~46K (02/94) #2624 1994 Pearl LSi ~41K (12/93) #1961 1995 Bordeaux Pearl LSi ~70K (02/95) #855 1996 Polo Green LSi ~95K (03/96) #872 1997 Bordeaux Pearl LSi ~55K (08/96) #097 2003 Brilliant Red LS1 Convertible ~29K (04/03) #8951 1999 Magnetic Red LS1 Coupe ~33K (04/99) #6420 My Email | Old Locker | New Locker | Picture of 15 of the 19 |
#8
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I just did the ground wire, yesterday, but the lights seemed to have gone out on their own, even before that. I hate when problems fix themselves. I'm still looking for a new connector, but it seems to be ok for now.
Thanks again for the info
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Dave |
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