what the HECK could cause this? i have been fighting this problem for about 2 weeks now and i thought i had it fixed this morning. i jumped the car and it was running alright, except the check gauges light was on and the battery gauge was low (in the red) i thought that if i drove it around the alternator would charge the battery. well i was driving it down the road and i tapped the brakes (kinda hard) and all of the sudden, the battery gauge went up to normal where it should be and my check gauges and abs inop light both went off. i was like huh, wtf? so i stopped at a stop light and everything was cool. then when i accelerated (normall speed) i watched the battery gauge drop down deeeeep into the red and both my lights came back on? so i drove it home and parked in the garage. i left the car idleing and grabbed my voltmeter. i tested the battery and it was reading weird? it was not at 12v and was fluctuating back and forth. i was going to keep testing things to see what i could figure out, but the car began to stuble and then died completely. i went to start it up again and it was just clicking! the battery was completly dead again?

i don't know what i should do. this is my daily driver and i have to fix it tonight. i am going to be gone this afternoon but willl work on it late into the night tonight.

the battery won't stay charge or even take a charge, and the car will not run off of the alternator? READ: the alternator and the battery are both BRAND new!

could someone please help me!!

thanks

thomas

 

Take both the alt. and battery out and have them tested.Even new stuff is defective.

 

is that what it sounds like it could be? i will do that but i don't really want to if i don't need to. plus since it's easter, everything is closed =(. i will do that. please someone post if you have more ideas!

thankss

thomas

 

Like I suggested one other time to someone, check the routing of the wires from the alternator. They may have been routed in front of the serpentine belt causing wear and shorting of the positive lead if someone did not palce the wires in their correct position after replacing the alternator.

 

guys,

i appreciate all of your suggestions, but it isn't either one. i think this is something seriously wrong in my electrical system. the only thing that i can think it would maybe be is my hella ff75 headlight conversion. i don't know if that would cause this though. the kit came with wires and harnesses and everything plugged right in? i don't know but i need some serious help here. i am open to any and all suggestions on what it is and what to do about my problem.

thanks everyone

thomas

 

Check all battery connections and grounds. Remove and clean them all if you have to. Having the battery and alt tested is still a good idea. As already stated, new does not always equal good.

 

i will do that! thanks guys

thomas

 

i've found that GM's wiring sucks, well in my car at least.

find all the grounds in your car and take sandpaper to them and clean them off. i did this and it fixed a few electrical problems i was having, including one that was affecting the ABS.