:help2:

My folks are in Maine, and their 'burb is acting up. Alternator is not charging batteries, tach is working fine. About 6-8 months ago, alternator crapped out, replaced it, all was fine.

Trans isn't shifting well, and voltmeter is in the red...

That's all the info I got from them. Wondering if anyone has any insight...

I'm wondering if the last time the alternator went out if it took the batteries down, and they finally just gave up the ghost...

:help2:

i'd clean up the positive terminals on the passenger side battery first. see what happens and go from there. don't ask why but those terminals are finicky and could be the root cause of the problem. Ed

:exactly:

Will check those, thanks...

If that doesn't take care of it, mine has a couple of fuseable links over by the fuse box inside the engine compartment. Also, they could probably get a cheap ($5 or less?) 12VDC light. Have them connect it to the back of the alternator lug with the big red wire going to the battery with the battery running. If good they should get bright glow. Then turn the engine off. The light should dim. Then do the same at the battery. If they have top post batteries it's best to do it there. If the alternator is good they should have the same results. If the light goes from bright to really dim then your right and there is a battery issue.

It looks to be a bad battery lug. The actual lug in the battery is funky, so I'm told. I haven't seen it, personally.

I have two new top post batteries waiting in the shop to go in. It's just a matter of making up a couple new battery cables. Should have done this awhile ago, I guess. :rolleyes:

Anyway, they are back on the road, and headed for home. Thanks for the quick replies.

Ty

It looks to be a bad battery lug. The actual lug in the battery is funky, so I'm told. I haven't seen it, personally.

I have two new top post batteries waiting in the shop to go in. It's just a matter of making up a couple new battery cables. Should have done this awhile ago, I guess. :rolleyes:

Anyway, they are back on the road, and headed for home. Thanks for the quick replies.

Ty

thems the stories we like 2 hear:cool2:. i had similar issues with my truck and replaced an alternator. i had taken it to canadian tire who does free alternator charging tests. just bring in the alt. and they hook it up to a tester. when they said they could not test mine as they didn't have the data for it, i replaced it. 24 hours later i replaced it again under warranty. 2 weeks later i was out of town and threw a belt, the pulley on the alt. was wobbly. so being out of town and canadian tire didn't have my alt. i went to lordco and got one. and returned the original to a local canadian tire. no problems since. 13 months now. anyhow i have been wondering if the original alt. or the 2nd one was bad for the past 13 months or was it really due to a finicky battery connection. except for the wobbly pulley alt. which was obviously shot. anyhow i'll bet ya a donut you are now wondering if it wasn't the battery connection all along and might have not ever needed to replace the alt. ED

anyhow i'll bet ya a donut you are now wondering if it wasn't the battery connection all along and might have not ever needed to replace the alt. ED


No, for sure the first alternator was BAD. Had that wonderful burnt electrical smell, and carbon all over it. At that time, we inspected the terminals and cables, and cleaned and greased all connections, noting that we should abandon the side terminal setup...

This incident confirms it.

We try not to throw parts at a vehicle without proper diagnosis. With all the electronics these days, it can be tricky...