Battery/Alternator problem???

[89vert]

There have been a few people mention the voltage regulator. Most time if a voltage regulator goes out the output of the alternator will be high voltage not low. More than likely it is the brushes but don't mess with that. If you can find a shop that rebuilds and rewinds their own I would go there. Just my 2 cents. Tim

 

[slapshot]

I went to AutoZone and got a new one for $129 with a lifetime warranty. I swapped it out already (relatively easy) and it seems normal again. The new alternator is putting out 14+v and the battery light is out. The old alternator had a slight squeel when I downed the pulley by hand.

I'm in the middle of the tune up now. I have the new distributor cap and rotor on, just need to put the plug wires back on the cap....then I get to tackle the plugs (uuugggggg).

Thanks all who gave input. I greatly appreciate it, these forums (for any vehicle) can save a bunch of money!!!!!!! Great knowledge base here.

 

[slapshot]

Everything is done. The distributor cap and rotor were easy. The plugs on the drivers side were easy. The plugs on the passenger side were a biiiiiatch. Whoever designed that side of the L98 should be shot. Most vehicles only have a couple of plugs, usually in the back that are hard. Not Chevy, they made the entire side a pain.

Anyway....the tune up helped alot. The idle is smoother, throttle response is quicker and smoother. I also put some carb cleaner through the throttle body to clean it all out. Overall, it made huge difference.

 

[89vert]

:Twist Now go and enjoy.

 

[slapshot]

A question on idle voltage.....is it normal for the voltage to fluctuate up and down at idle?? Since I installed the new alternator last week, I've noticed the voltage guage fluctuating slightly. I check the alternator today with a meter and found that it goes from 14 to 14.4 normally, but will dip down to 13.4 to 13.6 sometimes. The battery is around 12.2v or so with the car off and 14v+ with it idling.
The fan wasn't going on or off, so that wasn't the draw. Even while sitting at a traffic light with a turn signal on at idle, the voltage gauge moves with the light sequence........
I know the gauges are far from accurate, but the fluctuations have me wondering. I don't remember seeing many before, except for the turn signals...

 

[jcs44]

Sounds pretty typical/normal to me.

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

As long as the voltage goes up to 14.7 with the engine turning around 1500 RPMs the alternator is doing its job. Your battery with no load should read 12.6 volts when it is fully charged.

 

[slapshot]

Thanks for the info, number wise, it seems like all is well. One thing that kinda has me wondering though, as the voltage fluctuates, so does the backlighting for the speedo display.
It is only at idle that it fluctuates. Once I give it just a bit of gas, it evens out and goes back up. I remember the gauge would move a little with turn signals on, but I think it's moving much more now. Maybe I'm just being paranoid, but I'll keep an eye on it for a while.

 

[Blue89]

Here's another price for ya.......just got a lifetime warranty alternator from ADVANCE AUTO for $98 bucks. Good luck!