Dont' want this to be too long but here goes. I seem to have something drawing on my electrical system. I am on my third alternator in the last 8 months and all read not enough amps being put out. My battery (Optima red) always runs on the edge and is never completely charged. Hence when I start it up it cranks 6 - 10 times before it fires (LTCC coil system). If I am at idle and the fans kick on the rpms drop to about 500 before they recover and idle correctly. If I turn on the air there is a major draw on the rpm's whether I'm idling or driving. I replaced the charging wire from the alternator to the battery to a #1 wire and hooked it up to the top post by itself. I also increased the size of the ground wire but it didn't seem to help. Any suggestions?? I don't know where to look next. I just had it checked this morning (because I had to jump it to get it started) at Advance auto and he said it wasn't putting out enough amps. The alternator is only about 3 weeks old!!!

Thanks

 

We ran into a similar problem with reman alternators a couple years ago. They would go bad after a couple months, could be the same thing your dealing with.

 

Stick with OEM. Replace your belt tensioner. I've seen many a new alternator go bad from a bad tensioner. My assumption is, the bearing makes the tensioner work kind of jerky (best way I can describe it). This is constantly shock loading the input shaft of the alternator. Inturn, you get both mechanical shock and electrical loading and unloading of the alternator.

My friend went through 3 alternators in a year until he changed the tensioner. That's been 2 years ago now. Do the belt too if it's some what dated.