Basically this is my problem. Battery died, replaced that. Started to die again, so I replaced my alternator. Worked for about 2 months. Now my battery is starting to die again. Got the battery and the alternator checked at the parts store and they said that the alternator isn't putting out enough volts to charge the battery. They said that I need to recheck all my connections. I did that and the problem is still there. Cold start the car struggles to start,warm start is even worse. The guage is showing about 11 amps @ idle. In gear it's at about 9.5-10 amps. What should I check/do next?

 

I think you mean 11 volts-not amps. If they told you the alt was not putting out enough voltage, then it needs to be replaced.

 

Sorry, I meant volts. I just got that alternator 2 months ago. I bought it from the store that just checked my battery and alt. So instead of teling me that the alt. they sold me was bad, they tell me to check all the connections?

 

Well, if they tested it off the car and said it was not putting out good voltage, then yes, it is bad.

 

Since they don't have the wiring connections on it when they tested it, how could wiring be an issue?????

Get a multimeter and check the voltage across the battery when it is cranking and after it starts. While cranking it should not drop below 11 volts and after it is running it should be around 14 volts. Depending on what you find will determine what to do next.

And stop buying cheap electrical auto parts and get OEM.

 

So the parts store gave me a new alternator and a new battery. They even tested the alternator before they put it in the car. Put them in the car and it worked great until the car warmed up, then the voltage went way down. Took it back to the parts store, got it tested on the car, and they said that it was putting out 11 volts. They think that the power wire from the battery to the alternator is old and getting heat soaked, they said that could be causing the problem. Anyone ever heard of this?

 

Your power wire or any other wire for that matter can only be a good connection, a bad connection (as in partially open circuit with higher resistance) or shorted to ground.

If it's a bad connection, it may not pull enough current from the alternator to charge the battery back up. This will show up when the voltage is tested across the battery while the engine is running. Did you test it yet?

A bad connection however, will not F up a good alternator. A dead short might but then you would instantly know if you had a dead short. The give away would be smoke and smell.

So anything other than a dead short could not kill your alternator. Have them explain the theory they are relying on that killed a good alternator.

In the mean time check the grounds at the passenger fender and the one on the driver side from the frame to the engine. Check running battery voltage.