Starter Clicked then everything shut off

RoadZOmbie · Mar 22, 2009

On Friday, leaving back to my house, I turned the key to start my car then all of a sudden the starter clicked and everything shut down. My bro came and tried to jump the car a 1st time and no power, then the 2nd time, it started right up. I also noticed the optimas battery cells were starting to get lumpy, signs of inflation. I bought a PA alternator from brothers to have it here just incase the one on my car was bad. I took the old one to get tested at 2 shops and it passed at 14.8 volts. When I have the car on, I get 15.0-15.7 volts from the alternator. I never remember my volts being that high. Whenever I would check, they would be at 14.1-14.8. Has this happened to any of you guys? I've had past experiences where the load test machine said the alternator was good but in reality, it was bad, but this was on an older 77 pickup. I dont want to install the PA and not solve anything. The car is still running between 15.0-15.7 volts, it has started since but wanted to know if its overcharging or something. THANKS!

topless95 · Mar 22, 2009

I was thinking it has a bad volt regulator, and I googled it and sounds as if that is the case with your alternator. Check out the following link
http://autorepair.about.com/cs/electrical/a/aa122700a.htm

screech · Mar 22, 2009

Check your grounds. Have had numerous tard moments over a ground issue.

RoadZOmbie · Mar 22, 2009

where do you recommend I look?

CC'S95GT · Mar 22, 2009

ck both batt cables for corrosion inside the insulation. ck the gnds going from the engine to the body and to the frame. but it could still be the volt regulator too. it should put out arround 14.5 with the engine running

RoadZOmbie · Mar 23, 2009

Alright, thanks guys. Im going to buy a BWD branded regulator from pepboys and go from there. Hopefully its just the regulator so I can return the PA Alternator to Brothers Performance and get something else there. I'll post up an update tomorrow afternoon.

screech · Mar 23, 2009

ummmm.... external voltage regulators are something of way past. are we talking about that pickup you had, or the mustang? your alternator should have an internal voltage regulator. so you have to swap out your alternators. Or you can just flash your field. google it, I cant describe how to flash it.

RoadZOmbie · Mar 23, 2009

well the mustang has a voltage regulator on the rear of the alternator and it is replaceable.

like shown here....

FordInjected · Mar 24, 2009

didnt you say your battery cells were starting to get lumpy, signs of inflation. <- obvious signs of a bad battery.. or am i not reading this correctly? your battery is toast. i would be very careful even with charging that if that is your only option ( i wouldnt even try it because its just dangerous). also i am pretty sure that the alternator does not have a voltage regulator on the back of it. im almost positive the output of an alternator is referenced by your PCM. the pcm regulates how much voltage is sent through the rotor wich controls how much that bad boy is going to make. an alternator could make alot more than 14.5 volts or what ever most cars need to operate. he said it runs around there so why would the voltage regulat be bad if its putting out what it should?

topless95 · Mar 24, 2009

FordInjected said:
didnt you say your battery cells were starting to get lumpy, signs of inflation. <- obvious signs of a bad battery.. or am i not reading this correctly? your battery is toast. i would be very careful even with charging that if that is your only option ( i wouldnt even try it because its just dangerous). also i am pretty sure that the alternator does not have a voltage regulator on the back of it. im almost positive the output of an alternator is referenced by your PCM. the pcm regulates how much voltage is sent through the rotor wich controls how much that bad boy is going to make. an alternator could make alot more than 14.5 volts or what ever most cars need to operate. he said it runs around there so why would the voltage regulat be bad if its putting out what it should?

Yes the voltage regulator is on the back of the alt, and it is easily replaceable. The volt regulator does what the name implies it regulates the voltage that the alt puts out, whether or not the pcm is the controller I am not sure. Yes alt's can make more that 14.5v, but any more than 14.5v will kill your battery.

RoadZOmbie · Mar 24, 2009

man. you guys are not going to believe this. I replaced the regulator, which is in the back of the alternator, as well as the brushes since I was back there. But I still yielded the same results of 15.1 to 15.7 volts. Switched to another battery I had around the garage, with no problem solving results. I changed the battery on the voltmeter just for the hell of it..........................

and it was reading right between 14.1 to 14.8 like it should. Wholy crap what a dumb thing it ended up being in the end. Im still knocking myself because of that. I still checked all my grounds and they were all good and clean. I got another red top battery under warranty and havent installed it yet because im checking if the one I have on the car now will slowly get inflated over some time. Man oh man, what an experience. I guess shit happens.