charging issue part 2

[87poopcoupe]

sigh....

so today on the way home I notice voltage gauge is showing low (10-11 volts)
go home and park and i can hardly get the windows up...

double checked. no drain at park...

battery tested at 12.6 volts off
at idle 12.6 as well...

brand new battery and new alt... (alt fuse is good )wires all look good

going to tinker with it in a bit....

any advice ?

[700hp04mystic]

check all grounds.

[87poopcoupe]

check all grounds.

grounds checked...

got to log into work here in a few minutes ? anyone wanna come over Tommorow morning and help me find a electrical gremlin ?

lunch & beer is on me...

[87poopcoupe]

time to tinker ....

[87poopcoupe]

just tested voltage at batt neg ... to alt post and got 12.1 volts ?

i think this alt is junk even though their test shows otherwise....

[mustangjon]

You have a direct cable from battery to alt so voltage will be see @ idle should deff be seeing more tyan 12v tho. Is your amp light on? If burnt out alt will not charge

[87poopcoupe]

no battery light on !

I've never had a battery light since i have owned the car.... the amp guage is working..though it reads low ...

[87poopcoupe]

had autozone bench test the alt (4 times)

passed with flying colors...

pulled the console /dash display out

bulb and resistor look good... replaced bulb just to double check...

pic below =
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=438997492804310&set=a.335376373166423.67420.100000821907730&type=1&relevant_count=1

[700hp04mystic]

check all fuses and relays.

[87poopcoupe]

check all fuses and relays.

check fuses and the relay...

I am stumped ...

[87poopcoupe]

ok quick update..

i jumped the green wire on back of alt directly to the positive battery terminal to bypass that potion of the harness...

I now am at 14.6 volts charging.....

so question is bad harness or no signal from computer to start charging ?

should I replace the harness or just bypass that portion of harness and run as is and include a fuse/relay for safety sake ?

[redfirepearlgt]

Is this an 87 model that had a separate voltage regulator? Voltage regulators can fail open or fail closed. Failing open would result in no charge...

If this is an 87 model with the reg built into the alt. then disregard.

Had an issue with charging on an 84 Escort once. Turned out to be the regulator AND alternator. The reg was mounted on the fender well sep from the alt. Car was fine there after.

[87poopcoupe]

nope this is an 95 gt 5.0....

[87poopcoupe]

Ok now i have a new problem...

I can jump the green/red wire directly to the battery and the alternator will charge.. but if its left connected it will run down the battery... If i am reading diagram correctly that means my issue lies somewhere with the circuit that goes to the instrument cluster ?

update.. just checked fuse 18 (interior and it is not blown)

could it be an issue with my cluster ?

http://diagrams.hissind.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Altenator-Wiring-Diagram.gif

[87poopcoupe]

I suppose the next step is to replace the resistor ?

looks like radioshack has one the same 560ohm for 1 dollar ?

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062321

[WhiteStripes]

I had this same problem. There is an exciter wire from your ignition going to the alternator and it was not sending voltage telling the alt. To charge.
Do some reasearch on corral i cant remember how i fixed mine off hand.
I bet thats the problem.

[87poopcoupe]

checked coral didnt see anything that seemed close to what is going on...
i got a resistor from radio shack so I will check the resistor tommrow..

[Black Horse]

Jump the charge indicator lamp/gauge and see if it charges. If the lamp is burnt, it won't charge (now there's a great design!).

[87poopcoupe]

jump the gauge/bulb ...how its all built into the cluster ? i can see the resistor on the back..

[87poopcoupe]

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/67160_438997492804310_478835619_n.jpg

[WhiteStripes]

Blackhorse has it. The indicator lamp was out.

[87poopcoupe]

Blackhorse has it. The indicator lamp was out.

indicator light has not worked since i have owned the car...

i took the bulb and its good... but no battery light has every been on ?

soldering in a new resistor while i work...

[87poopcoupe]

soldered in new resistor ....

still no charging......

[Black Horse]

Screw the resistor.....jump the bulb.

[87poopcoupe]

Screw the resistor.....jump the bulb.

not sure how to jum the bulb might have to rig something...

[87poopcoupe]

ok checked and dont see a decent way to jumper the bulb.. its a strange twist &click style bulb...

But if the only thing I am missing is the ign switch /hot signal from that wire.... couldnt i just splice into a different line that is power on at ignition also.. such as AC or radio or such ?

[Black Horse]

You can jumper the Red/Green wire to the Green/red wire at the connector (just stuff a short jumper wire in the back of the connector).

You can also start checking voltage (even a test light) right after fuse 18, right after the idiot light, etc. to see where you are losing the power.

[87poopcoupe]

yes jumper-ed the two this morning.... still no charging

leads me to believe no signal from the ignition (on) wire...?

[Black Horse]

Time to start following the path with the test light

[87poopcoupe]

sigh.. bout ready to say screw it and put a toggle switch on it...

last time I ever let the wife pick a car b/c its pretty..

[2Kblacksleeper]

Can you post a pic of the car? I'm curious if its my old 95 GT. I had the same issue. And never got it resolved.

[87poopcoupe]

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/304636_418436761527050_1227106098_n.jpg

[SN95N/A]

I dont think its same car lol wasnt urs red?

[2Kblacksleeper]

Yea it was. I'm curious to where it went. I almost bought it back from the guy i sold it to.

I'd be in a position to maybe buy it back about April. The guy I sold it to tinted the windows and changed tbe seats. I put a lot of suspension work in that car.


Do you still have the orange fox?

[2Kblacksleeper]

Mine was red. It had gun metal gray powder coated cobra r wheels.

[SN95N/A]

I got rid of orange fox got 03 cobra now

[2Kblacksleeper]

Very nice. I remember the add for it. Sounds like it makes stupid power?

[slow86fiveoh]

Screw it one wire that thing it's what I had to do in my fox I couldn't figure out the charging issue

[87poopcoupe]

Screw it one wire that thing it's what I had to do in my fox I couldn't figure out the charging issue

well i installed a switch to bypass the circuit for the time being.. going to look at a few thins this weekend....