I believe I have a dead alternator, but I want to make sure there isnt anything else I can do before replacing it. First off I'll give you my specs in the car. Its a 92 SC400, I have TV, PS2, and about 1000 W total power to the system. I do have a 1 Farad capacitor as well. The battery was replaced about a year ago. Just recently, like a week ago, my battery warning light will come on the display and my cd player along with my headlights will dim, then eventually my whole dash. I disconnected all my audio stuff from the battery and tested the power of it with a volt meter. After charged the battery will hold around 12 volts, but when I turn the key to accessory the battery will drain faster than it should, and after I turn the car on at idle the battery will stay, but when I rev the engine it goes down. Obviously its the alternator, but I'm curious why the battery drains as fast as it does while its in accessory, this is with nothing hooked to the battery besides the factory cables. Please if anyone can give me any insite on what to check or any help with anything relative to this subject, price quotes on alternators, etc. Please help this is very aggravating.

 

check to see if ur power steering pump isn't leaking... it's located right above the altenator and when it starts to leak it'll start dripping on ur altenator which kills it... it's happened to several people on the forum already, a notorious problem w/ the sc's. I'm already on my third altenator and my pump jus started leaking again.

khang

 

I had this problem, I replaced the alt. and everythign is back to normal.

 

ok, I know this is and old thread, but.. I just had the same problem DaBling69 had. Only problem now is that I replaced the alternator and the battery light indicator is still on and the alternator isnt charging. I thought I got a bad alternator, so I exchanged it again. Put the new one in, and the same thing happened. I checked all off the fuses in the engine bay box and under my dash. Anything else I should look at?

 

still flubbergasted... any ideas?