Charging issues

[MWA]

Need some advice I just put in a serpentine one belt setup and a msd box in my 83 cutlass. Now I am having charging issues. Something keeps killing the battery. Everytime I charge it back up and drive it the car dies on me. Any advice I sure can use some.

 

[pontiacgp]

I'd be looking at the alternator since you just put the serpentine set up in. If you charge the battery in the car and leave it does it go dead?

 

[MWA]

I changed the alternator and it is still dying. If the car is not running the battery is fine. I left the car and did not bother it for a week and the car started right up. But if I let it sit and run for a while then cut the car off it will not start back up.

 

[pontiacgp]

sounds like you have a wiring problem, is the alternator getting excited and charging?

 

[MWA]

I don't think that it is. How would I know? I can't tell

 

[pontiacgp]

check the voltage at the back of the alternator when the engine is running.

 

[MWA]

What should the voltage be at?

 

[oldsmobile joe]

charging voltage on a gm is approximately 2 volts higher than battery voltage. look for 14 to 15 volts with the eng running.

 

[383S10]

Do you have an idiot light in your or voltage gauge......if you have an idiot light you have to use a resistor to make the charging system work.......I couldnt find my old thread here that I did but was able to dig it up another G-body sight ....
http://www.maliburacing.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=95774&start=15

............sorry the pdf links are dead.......but this link has diagrams for the idiot light set up........

https://www.google.com/search?q=1+w...+wire+resistor+for+charging+with+idiot+light+