I have a 1994 Buick Regal Custom, about 6 months ago the battery ran dead, we checked the alternator and the alternator was fine, so we recharged the battery and about a couple weeks the car would not start, because there was no power, the battery would not hold a charge and the alternator was shot, we then got a new alternator and battery. now recently i've noticed the lights dimming, and i checked the voltage and it is low, so i charged the battery, and it ran low again, yet the alternator is working perfectly, I checked all the wires and fuses and am not sure why i am having this recurring problem.
What is the voltage you are reading? Is it below 13.2 or so? Also have you checked the current with the engine off to see if something else is working that should not be on. I ran across this twice while working on a truck and car. A relay that was wore out keep trying to close and would drain the battery every couple of months. Sometimes you can hear them clicking or buzzing. Touching them sometimes they are warm or real hot. But that is not a sure sign it is bad. In my Trailblaze they get hot but are ok. Another thougth is the belt on your alt, correctly set to spin it at the right voltage. I have ran across this many times lately with serpatine belts.
If your alternator is working perfectly your voltage should not be low or light's dimming.Sometimes you get an alternator that isn't good.If you got the cheapest you could that isn't always the way to go with electrical parts.Also need to check to see if have a drain on the system with the vehicle off.
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I have a voltage gauge built into the dash, when i first got the new alternator and battery i could run the lights and Air conditioning and the gauge did not read below 12v, but more recently it will drop down to 8volts with the lights on, or the AC on, I found that using my blinker for too long also drains the battery, when the car is running. i am not quite sure how to explain the problem. but im not sure anything is running when the engine is off, because usually when i start it every morning after it has been sitting is when it starts the easiest. i know its not the belt because I had that replaced 3 months ago when i replaced the mass air flow sensor. if u ask more questions i am sure we can narrow it down and find the problem.
I have the same problem if you firgure it out please let me know!
My 96 pathfinders battery keeps running low to dead could it be the alternator?
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