charging system problem

[krazykyle]

i have a 83 cutlass with a 350 Chevy motor in it.i'm having problems with the charging system.i have a new alternator that was tested and passed,the battery is also new.had the car out yesterday and all the gauges and head lights started going dim to a point they went dark.is the something in between the alternator and the battery that i should check to see why this isn't working.

 

[krazykyle]

does anyone think that it might be the fuseable link.how can i test the system

 

[pontiacgp]

did the battery go dead or was it just the lites that dimmed?

 

[krazykyle]

battery is fine the lights went out and the car was still running.

 

[krazykyle]

the lights where on and then they started to go dim and then dark

 

[krazykyle]

the car is running off the battery.i started the car and unplugged the alternator and it runs fine,but when i disconnect the battery it dies.

 

[krazykyle]

i took some reading off the back of the alternator with my meter and it says i'm gettin 91.8 volts? shouldn't i be getting only 14 volts.it's only a 63 amp alternator.

 

[krazykyle]

i put my meter on the battery and it said 11.8 and was not going up.

 

[tc1959]

i put my meter on the battery and it said 11.8 and was not going up.

Do you have an alternator light, and or a volt gauge and is it working ? It sounds to me like the field isn't energizing.

 

[454muscle]

Yeah it sounds like your battery is not getting charged by your alternator. Obviously a connection issue. You got a voltmeter so basically check all the connections. Also check your ground connections -- to the engine and to the body.