Questions and Answers
Chevy Not Charging
Q. Hi Vince; I have just completed installing a new wiring kit from EZ-wiring co. I followed all the directions carefully. Drove the car for a few weeks. It ran fine. One day it quit suddenly. When I attempted to restart the car, the battery was near dead. I had just come off the highway. Began checking things.
The battery is new, so I recharged it and the car started right up. I looked at the volt meter and it was reading slightly above 12 volts. I have since done the following:
1) Checked all connections and cleaned.
2) Checked voltage at the battery terminals with the car running (no load) reads slightly above 12 volts no matter what rpm.
3) Replaced the alternator. Using VOM checked voltage from 'BATT' on alternator to ground. Only reads 12.5 volts no matter what RPM. Is this low?
4) Checked battery POS to NEG engine off, reads 12.5 volts.
5) Checked 'FIELD' on alternator (engine running) to ground. Reads 12.5 volts. I know after driving it for a while the battery will not get enough charge and will the car will quit again. Any ideas what else I should try?
In addition I also did a battery leakage test. I disconnected the NEG. terminal, hooked the VOM between the NEG, cable and the NEG. battery post. The VOM read 12.5 volts!! I'm not good at electrical, I do follow directions. This has me puzzled. The only thing I could come up with is the clock in the radio. Would this be the leakage culprit? I removed the battery cleaned it with a baking soda solution, polished the battery terminals and the reading was the same.
1939 Chevy
Engine size 327
Automatic transmission
Mileage 20,000Thanks in advance for any advice you have.
MoeA. Sounds like the alternator is not putting out it's full potential. If you are checking for a draw on the battery you need to put a ammeter in series with the negative cable on mili-amp scale. It should have less than 40Ma. draw. Don't open any doors or turn on any loads while checking this or you will blow a fuse in ammeter! The alternator needs a trigger to turn it on and charge the battery. The FEILD wire that plugs into the side of the alternator is the wire that needs to be looked at for problems.
Additional Information provided courtesy of ALLDATA
