So i have a strange problem with my car opposite of most. It will charge at 14.4 at idle no problem, but it will drop to 12.6 after driving a short distance.
Only with no electrical on though.
It charges only under load.
If i turn the headlights or blower on it will charge 14+ volts and won't stop. Though once i turn those off it drops to 12.6
Turn them back on immediately goes back up past 14 volts.
I already replaced the alternator and the battery tests good. I've checked all my grounds, fuses, etc.
I know some newer cars have energy savers that turn the alternator off but it's a 95 i don't think this car has that. and the battery will go dead after a while like that.
I am stumped, i guess i can just drive with my lights on at all times but i'd still rather fix it.

 

Were you getting the same voltage readings before you replaced the alternator?

 

Yeah the old alternator did the same thing.

 

A 95 does have dual-mode charging. The car has a Electric Load Detector (ELD) in the under-hood fuse/relay box; which allows the ECM to determine charging rates.

If your battery is not dead, there is no issue.

 

Maybe that is the problem then, it does die after a week or two. I usually charge it once it hits 12.3 or 12.4 volts. It should be charging since the battery is always a little low. I don't see anything to replace on this though. Its the bottom plug and bolt and nut thing in the lower right corner right? Is there a way to test this thing?


http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/w...161206_730.jpg

 

If it was the alternating not charging, the issue was generally be that same day, not a week or two later.

Issue sounds more like a failing battery, battery cable connections, or excessive parasitic draw.

 

Well it would charge for a few minutes then stop. I never really drove it more then 10 minutes at a time anyway. So it would charge about 70% of the time.
I think i figured it out though. I pulled the connector on the ELD and it was packed full of grease top to bottom. So i cleaned some of it out and plugged it in and out a few times wiggled the wires and then went for about a 20 minute drive and it never dropped below 14 volts. I do not know why there was so much grease in that connector or why it was never a problem before the connector was in there tight. But that seems to have fixed it. It never goes even close to that long without dropping.

 

So it is still doing this. i replaced the fuse box thinking it was the ELD but it still drops down to 12.6-12.8 volts and dash lights dim. Until i turn on the lights or blower then it goes back up to 14.4.
What is it normal to drop down to? I thought it only dropped to 13.5-13.8v?
Not sure what else to do at this point other than check the wire that goes to the ELD otherwise I'm just driving with my headlights on.