Voltage drop

Tiny
CARL190
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 NISSAN SENTRA
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 198,378 MILES
I have problems with my car seems that the voltage drop, in the mornings I have no problem to start it, crank it a little but starts at the first try, but when I driving slow like 20 mpg, the air bag light start to blink and the temperature gauge start to drop, the electric windows work very slow, looks like the car is going to died but don't, but when I press the gas looks like everything is normal, in these conditions if I turn it off, it won't start. Also the headlights are very dim and the lights in the dashboard too, when I press the gas they are very bright. The a/c compressor is not working. A mechanic said that the fuse and relays are ok. I already changed alternator (rebuild), new battery, driving belts, alternator belts.
Sunday, May 15th, 2011 AT 5:22 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Use a digital multimeter across the battery posts, everything off, note the reading. Engine running, take second reading. The second reading should be higher than the first, if charging system is working.

Rpms can effect generator output to a point. Bad drive belt, idle rpms too low?

Also, with everything off, terminals 1 and 4 should read the same voltage at the generator.
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Sunday, May 15th, 2011 AT 6:16 PM

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