I have been wireing up my gauges for about 2 weeks now. I finished last night but the battery was drained I think. I boost the car off & with the booster cables attached to the truck, the volt gauge reads 14. Then when I take the cables off the volt gauge drops to 8. Even when the car is running all the lights a dim. Does this mean I need a new battery or is it the alternator? I did check the water in the battery & it looks okay. Before the gauges were put on it ran fine but When it got real cold the winter I did have to boost it off once.
have the alt. checked...make sure the "exciter wire" on the alt. is plugged in. i bought 2 batts. because of mine not being plugged in ...frank...
Both of you are right, Alt has passed. Now the question is do I put a stock one back on or do I put a more powerful one on. Auto Zone said the stock puts out about 60 amps. Performance Distributors has a 100 amp for about $150. the engine is not stock plus a have all aftermarket gauges, i will be putting some bass in the trunk one day, & maybe air bags on the front if this means something.
Whether your car is stock or not... the bigger alternator will be used. If you get a alternator with a 100 amp over the 60 amp, it just means it will recharge your battery at a faster rate and provide more power for other things also.
i have a bolt on, late model, stock, 1 wire, ford, 100 amp. alt. ...$100...talk to someone at an alt. shop...frank...
Thanks for the help. I have never had a alt. problem. Maybe thats why I have to buy a battery for my pickup every 3 years or so. Maybe I need to upgrade it too.
i've used the summit 1 wire 100 amp alternator for a couple of years now with no problems. $139.95. i'd go with the bigger one.
O, maybe I need to buy a better battery that those Wal-Mart ones. I called the company this morning before going there but someone gave me the wrong price. Now the price is $230. I hate that. Sounds like to much but they are local. He also said that the one wire will only have to go to the positive side on the battery & zip tie the other wires some where out the way. Is this correct? I may have to go with summit. Any other companies I need to check for?
i just went to napa online. they have 90/100 amp alternators for 77 comet for $90.99 remanufactured. $55 core charge so you'd have to take your old one in. i'd bring it in to match the wiring anyway. hope this helps.
