JDMSteven

Just bought a 99 with 145 and having weird issues.

I noticed my car wasn't charging all of a sudden and I checked and its barely getting 11 volts while the engine was running. Checked at auto zone and they said its a bad alternator. Changed the alternator. Got it checked and they said the alternator was bad. Hmm.

On my second new alternator (tested in store on machine and passed) did the same thing. So I took the battery completely off while the car was running and now everything is fine. No dips when the lights and ac are on. .

This isn't the first time something like this has happened (did it in my 99 expedition too) but the last owner put a new battery in in December.

At Walmart now trying to get it exchanged.

PFB

I'm not going to comment on your current issue since you're dealing with it. But one comment that I shall make is that you should NEVER, EVER disconnect your battery while your engine is running.

Doing that, you stand an excellent chance of permenently damaging critical electronic components, including the various expensive management computers. You dodged a bullet this time.

Keep us up to date how you resolved your issue. It will help other members.

Phil

JDMSteven

Battery was low (which I knew) but Walmart charged it then tested it and it they said its good. One thing I did was separate the two cables on the positive side and put them on two ring clamps and put them through the bolt holes on the terminals with the flat ended cable underneath the piece of the metal.

TL;DR: Wiring was funky, battery was low, everything is fine.

pauloil

anyone reading this: CHECK YOUR WIRES FIRST, BEFORE REPLACING ALTERNATORS. LOOK FOR BAD CABLE ENDS AND STRONGLY CONSIDER DOING A VOLTAGE DROP TEST

JDMSteven

I didn't pull the battery, my dad did (and he tends to know everything, he's 50+). Car started slow, with A/C and other accessories on car will die at idle after a few mins. Stumped.

pauloil

i'm puzzled. are you stumped, or "everything is fine".
"I noticed my car wasn't charging all of a sudden and I checked and its barely getting 11 volts while the engine was running. Checked at auto zone and they said its a bad alternator. Changed the alternator. Got it checked and they said the alternator was bad. Hmm" the wires are bad.

JDMSteven

So its draining at idle with accessories on , to the point where the car will die in a few minutes. If I Rev it slightly it charges. I'm thinking wires but how do I go about this? Someone suggested that I need a 100amp alternator, although when I give most auto stores my info they recommend an 80amp

ES300NZ

actually, what I meant when I wrote 80amp vs. 100amp, was that your current alternator was not supplying enough power, it maybe that it's faulty and only putting out 40amps, or it maybe that your (our) car has a 120amp alternator from factory. My 1uz-fe came equipped with a 120amp alternator, and most competition sound cars have 200amp alternators. Is there somewhere near you, that you can have that tested. (the output).