help!!!!!!!!!!

[bigt0006]

so im going nuts. i love my cutlass to death but its at the point where every pay check something goes.this past check i replaced the alternator thinking that it was bad was putting out just under 12 v, so i replaced it only to find that that alternator was only putting out around 12.3v so i had them order me another one even though this one tested good. i looked at the plug and it looked a little melted so i replaced it with blade connectors and installed the new alternator checked its output and its still around 12.3 to 12.4. i disconnected the pos battery terminal with the car running and after a few seconds the idle increased not alot but you could tell that it was idling at a higher rpm then before did it 3 times same thing happened so my question is what could it be, the first alternator i put in tested good and im sure if i test this one it will test ok its driving me crazy

 

[pontiacgp]

the alternator is not being excited...do you have a gauge or a light. If it is a gauge and the build does not illuminate when you are starting the car or if it a light and that does not illuminate when starting the car that is the the problem

 

[Flyers9928]

Also check you belts! I thought my compressor was going bad and took off the belt and started to have weird problems. Thought it was a bad alternator, replaced, still not charging. After going through wiring and double checking everything I stood back to think. My buddy was revving the engine and checking for voltage when I noticed that the belt didn't turn any faster when it was revved up. A new belt got it charging to 13 volts, but once I put the A/c belt back on it was charging at 14.9 volts.

 

[bigt0006]

I took the ac compressor out. Ill have to check the belt, its a fairly new belt only a couple months old. My cluster is just the normal cluster not the rally cluster only has speed gas and prnd. When i start the car the charge light comes on and shuts off like its suppose to. This cars starting to drive me nuts just went on my lunch brake and saw some wetness under the rear on my car and i looked and the dam gas tanks leaking

 

[pontiacgp]

if the light goes out it should be charging. What are you testing it with?

 

[bigt0006]

Testing it with my multi meter at the point where the alternator connects to the plug and battery wire and its only reading 12.3 volts and it reads the same at the battery terminals

 

[pontiacgp]

If it is only putting out 12.3 volts your warning light for your alternator would be on. I missed this in your op but if your alternator was not charging the car would have stalled when you removed the cable from the battery. Have you tried another multimeter.

 

[bigt0006]

Ive tried 2 different multi meters and got the same reading with both i tested at the battery terminals and at the alternator output both using the battery ground. The light works because it comes on and goes off when i start the car.

 

[Pontiac455]

Worn brushes or rotor slip rings causes this. Rebuild or change the alt.

 

[bigt0006]

Its a brand new alternator and its the second new one ive put in in less than a week