voltage

[fauxden]

Howdy-

 

So about 4 months ago I had to put a new alternator in my 86 gl. Recently my volts have been riding a little low when I fire up my car. They are at like 10 or lower...12 is in the middle right? should be at about 13? Well anyways I had the battery checked and it was good. The weird thing is, is when I rev it up to just about 4000 rpms the voltage will jump up to the 13 mark and stay there no problem. What do you think the problem could be? Oh- and I don't think it just the gauge either because if my lights are on and the voltage it low they are really dim, hit that 4k mark and they light right up. Thanks for any help.

[gbianchi]

quick thought here, sounds like loose/bad belt, higher rpm helps it grab, don't know what else could cause that, loose connector, bad ground?........G

[Twitch de la Brat]

It sounds like a alt failure to me.

I would get a cheap replacement alt from the Junkyard.

Swap them out and see if it helps.

 

Or you could just get a Nissan Maxima alt and swap pulleys and have a 90 amp

where a 55 amp used to sit.

The 55 amp alternators are rather pitiful, and any decent amount of drain will

make your voltage drop to the levels you're seeing.

 

My 87 wagon's 200w stereo will cut out if the engine is idling.

So, an upgrade is a very good and recommended option.

 

Twitch

[baggyshorts]

when you say get an alternator from a nissan maxima, what year? and when you change out the pulley, is it easy to remove? and do you just switch pulleys from the alts? thanks

[Twitch de la Brat]

when you say get an alternator from a nissan maxima, what year? and when you change out the pulley, is it easy to remove? and do you just switch pulleys from the alts? thanks

 

This thread will point you where you need to go.

But just to make it a little bit easier, I'll give you the details you need.

 

SOHC V6 Nissan Maxima 1986-94

It'll be on the bottom of the engine, directly behind the passenger side wheel

well.

All you need to do is swap pulleys and grind down the EA spacer and it'll all

bolt right in.

(Paraphrased from GD)

 

Twitch

Edited April 15, 2010 by Twitch de la Brat
Missed a detail