Battery

Hi and thanks for using 2CarPros.com.

Chances are the alt did not damage the battery. Excessive heat is very hard on a battery. The only way the alternator will damage a battery is if it overcharges.

What I suggest is this. Replace the battery and then check the alternator output. Here is a link that shows how it is done. It is very easy and only requires a volt meter or multi meter.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-alternator

With everything off including the engine, you should see just over 12 volts at the battery. With the engine running, it should have approximately 14 volts at the battery.

Let me know what you find.

Take care,
Joe

Hi again.

That is correct. Most parts stores will do it for free.

Let me know if you have other questions.

Joe

Welcome back.

If it is doing the same thing, it sounds like the alternator is not keeping the battery charged and it is slowly dying. Do me a favor, try the alternator test I listed in my first post.

Let me know the voltage you find with the engine off and running. It is really simple to do. You just need a volt or multi-meter. If you are concerned about doing it, feel free to ask any questions you have related to the testing procedure. I will walk you through it.

I will watch for your reply.

Take care,
Joe

Something is causing the battery to get low. If you check it in car, we can tell if there is a wiring problem. If the alternator checks good in the car, then we need to look for a draw on the battery when it is sitting/engine off that is causing it to get weak.

There are also fusible links that are between the alternator and battery. If one fails, the system cannot charge the battery, even with a good alternator. Testing it in car is a fail safe way to confirm the system is working.

I am glad you got it fixed. I have a feeling the wiring he referred to was a fusible link. They look just like a regular wire, but function as a fuse.

Regardless, I am glad it is fixed. Let us know if you have other questions.

Take care,
Joe

It matters which wire was involved. Power to the alternator is fused as well as from the alternator. It would matter which side of the alternator the wire went to, input or output. The original test would have shown there was no current to the battery from the alternator. At that point, we would have started checking power to the alternator and from because it tested good at the parts store.

The alt may not have been working (no power to it) or it may have been working but unable to send power to the battery for charging.