Cold Morning Charging

[Kevo]

On cold mornings (around 45* or less) my 94GT doesn't seem to charge from the alternator. The battery gauge stays on the "N" in NORMAL but after driving around for a little while all the gauge lights get brighter and the battery gauge jumps to the "M" in NORMAL. Any ideas on where to start looking? The alternator is only 4-5 months old...

 

[ttocs]

ignore the gauge. Start the car tomorrow and stick it with a volt meter and see what it reads. Wait till its warm and do it again. It could just be a simple loose connection that is tighter when its heated or it could be a bad gauge, or the start of a bad voltage regulator.

 

[Kevo]

Voltage regulator is built into the alternator correct?

 

[Addermk2]

yes, on our cars the voltage regulator is part of the alternator. Also, just because it's new, doesn't mean its good.

 

[ttocs]

just like he said. You can replace the regulator with out the entire alt if you want to see if its that.

 

[Kevo]

I'll check all the connections from the alternator first and then go from there. Thanks for all the help.

 

[ranger56528]

If it's the Alt at least you should be covered by warranty and like mentioned take and see what the alt is putting out when you start it and check after you've drivin it for a while.

 

[ttocs]

you didn't happen to have the new one powdered by chance did ya? Check all the power and ground connections around the alt and battery.

 

[JKady]

Could simply be your battery is getting weak and dragging the system down, cold weather is hard on car batteries.