Alternator problem. Or something else?

TBJUMPER0514

MEMBER
CHEVROLET CAMARO

I've got a 98 Z28(128,000 miles, automatic, LS1 5.7L 350) that my boyfriend and I assumed the alternator went out in. We change it, along with the plug-in(not sure what it is called. Has a tiny wire hooked to it, I assume for the gauge) because it broke when he took the alternator out. We put everything back, made sure the battery was hot and it is still running the battery down very quickly. Anything else we can check? And we used multiple hot batteries and had the original battery tested. Or could I have gotten a bad alternator from Auto Zone? Any ideas would be really helpful, I've only had the car a month and am really upset to not be able to drive it already.

4 Replies

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

Follow instructions below you will get to the problem is to why.

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Thursday, October 25th, 2007 AT 1:07 AM

TBJUMPER0514

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3 POSTS

Thanks for the quick reply, but I cannot read what it says. Anyway to copy and paste the text so I can read it? Thank you.

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Thursday, October 25th, 2007 AT 11:04 AM

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
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Okay

Get a voltmeter read the voltage before you start the car-record it- now start it up, put headlights and heater on high-now read the voltage again-should be reading between 13.5 to 15.5 volts, if not its not charging-recheck all connections-if okay check wiring from and to computer-The Comp. Controls the field generetion of the alternator.

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Thursday, October 25th, 2007 AT 2:58 PM

TBJUMPER0514

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We ended up figuring it out. Wasn't the alternator at all. My boyfriend missed some wires that were messed up and corroded. He fixed them and reconnected them and everything is working fine now. Thanks for the help, though!

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Thursday, October 25th, 2007 AT 9:21 PM