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View Full Version : I am having electrical power issues....Please HELP... :)



3literheater
08-20-2006, 06:25 AM
So I decided to put the Zionsville Autosport Super Competition Cooling Kit in my car. It comes with a full aluminum radiator with alloy resivor, electric fan, and the Euro Oil cooler.

To say the least I have had some really bad luck. When I installed the rad and went to fill it up it had a leak in the bottom of it. I belive it was damaged in shipping. I called up Zionsville and had to pay $300.00 for a new one to be sent out. Also where the oil cannister mounts to the block I had an oil leaking issue, so I had to tear that back apart to get it to seal properly.

I installed the new rad a couple of days ago. Once again more issues, the radiator is warped and will not sit properly in the the stock carriers. I followed the documentation on the electrical wiring and it didn't work right. For some reason my temp switch has different color wires going to it. I was able to sort that out and get the fan to work the way it is supposed to.

Driving my car today brought several problems. Here is my logic and please correct me if I am wrong. I have euro lights, angel eyes, lowjack, a big stereo, and now an electric fan. I belive my battery is going dead or my alternator is too small. In driving my AC was working like crap and then I got a ABS light. I thought something was f*%ked with my AC. I drove it again tonight and had the radio, lights, and electric fan on. My ABS light came on and my lights were dimming. Then my radio started turning on and off by itself. Then a check engine light. I pulled over because I thought the fan was drawing too much current when it turned on; so I turned off the car and pulled the fuse on the fan. When I went to start it up again there wasnt enough power to turn the motor over. I was able to jump the car and get it going again, I drove it for about a mile and the ABS light started coing on again.

Could all of my extras be pulling more power than the alternator can produce and therefore draining the battery and causing all of these problems? I belive my car has a 80A alternator on it, but I will have to confirm that tomorrow. If my theory is correct would putting the 140A alternator in correct these issues?

I will go and charge the car tomorrow and see if I still have these problems with the fan unpluged.

Any input would be greatly appriciated.

Thanks

SimonSingh
08-20-2006, 07:37 AM
How old is your battery? And yep, could be your alternator.

PixMan
08-20-2006, 10:38 AM
Get a load test done on the battery first, as those are that is the most common failure. Age of it can be indicative too.

Once you've eliminated the battery as a source of problems, check the voltage drop. With the car running and nothing on (such as A/C), put a voltmeter across the outputs from the alternator. You should be reading something between 13.8 and 14.7 volts. With all the accessories on, it should not drop below 12.5v or so. If the alternator is bad, that voltage will tank.

3literheater
08-20-2006, 02:05 PM
I have a one year old Stinger SP1700 battery, so I do not belive that would be the culprit.

themadhatter
08-20-2006, 02:54 PM
be sure that the ground strap to your motor is secure...they tend to come loose.

3literheater
08-20-2006, 08:43 PM
where is the ground strap located?

wheresmym3
08-21-2006, 12:30 AM
Will the 140 amp alternator bolt right up replacing the 80 amp one??