98 Legacy alternator not charging battery woes

[wasabiboi]

Hello, I've searched all over and have not found a solution to my issue.

 

I have a 98 legacy outback 2.5 ej25 and the alternator doesn't seem to be recharging my battery, causing the car to slowly die.

A new alternator had no change. Old alternator and new alternator both tested good at Autozone. Battery did too. I have no battery warning light when ign is on, but the bulb isn't burnt.

 

Trying to ground the black and white wire from alternator plug doesn't trigger the light either. Right now both alternators only put out roughly 11.98v. Going to try better grounds tonight and see if it helps. I've read people bypassing the warning light but no one goes in depth on how to do it. Anyone care to explain? Anyone know the solution?

[Fairtax4me]

You're not getting current to the field coil to excite the magnetic field to start charging. That's what the charge lamp circuit does.

 

Iirc there are two wires going into the plug on the alternator, both should have 12v on them with the key On. One goes to the fuse box under the hood, the other goes to the charge lamp.

If your charge lamp isn't working then focus on that wire first, replace the bulb or remove it and test it in another socket even if it looks fine. Make sure 12v is reaching the bulb. If you have 12v at the bulb, there's a broken wire or bad connection somewhere between the cluster and the alternator.

[lmdew]

A fellow I helped a few months ago had the same problem going on.  After 2 new Parts store Alt and trying 2 used Subaru Alt's he finally stopped by.

 

I found the main ground wire - Battery to Engine Block was loose.  The cable and bracket were both badly pitted.  I had a spare set of Subaru Battery Cables, so I changed them out.  14.3 Volts out of the Alt.

 

He was a happy man.