[Tommy]

for the past 2 days, every once in awhile while I'm driving, the voltmeter light comes on and the needle shoots to 18 volts. This only happens for maybe a minute or so, doesn't seem to effect anything except to make the lights brighter...checked the belt, there's no slack in it. can't figure out why it's doing that. I'm wondering if the voltage regulator inside the alt. is going bad?

 

[MWebber]

My vote is for the regulator too... it's most liekly going bad, 13.5-14+ volts can damage some systems in the car.

Deffinately need to get that fixed asap!

Mike

 

[supra_toy]

..hope you keep a fire extinguisher in your car... I would get that fixed ASAP

 

[CJSREDPRA]

Tanya,

14 - 15V is borderline okay for charging. Anymore than 15V WILL start overcharging the battery & eventually will fry/kill the battery. Time to replace the voltage regulator NOW!!! before it does more damage to the electricals.

 

[Black Dawg]

sounds like the regulator took a dump on ya.

On a side note..........how the crap do you tighten the alt. belts (v-belt setup)??? I have pretty small hands, but there is no room to work in there. Any secrets that I'm missing? I don't really want to pull the fan/shroud/radiator/front clip/hood apart just to tighten these belts.

[/thread hijack mode off]

 

[Voyn238]

I had an alternator do that to me once... It's definitely a problem with the internal voltage regulator. And the easiest way to fix that is to replace the alternator entirely.

For what it's worth, I drove home for about 45 minutes after the alternator started doing this... It was about 4 years ago, but I don't remember there being any ill effects. Perhaps the battery died a few weeks later, but who knows?

And as for how to work on the upper alt bolt, I first start by using a crowbar to pry the alternator out, holding it with my left hand while I adjust the nut on the tensioner guide, at which point the alternator shouldn't move much. Then I use a ratchet with a 3" extension and whichever socket it is, and tighten up the upper bolt. It's a close fit, but it works. Hey, maybe a cool side effect of having an electric fan is also getting more room to tighten the alt bolts!

 

[dohc82]

I use the "big bar" method also but I am still not happy with the tension. Its a real PITA especially since the new belts have to be retightened after the break in period. If anyone has a helpful hint I would sure like to hear it.
-Wil

 

[Jay]

Take it from me, a bad voltage regulator WILL kill a battery. As for adjusting belts, and all sorts of other shit, let me just say, i got a set of those ratcheting box wrenches last year, and I love the things - way better than trying to jam a ratchet in there, and way faster than a regular wrench.