ZR-1 Net Registry Forums  

Go Back   ZR-1 Net Registry Forums > C4 ZR-1 > C4 ZR-1 Technical Postings

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-20-2013   #1
LGAFF
 
LGAFF's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Crystal Lake, IL
Posts: 7,194
Default Alternator killer

Replaced the alternator on my 92. Within 2 minutes it was toast also; battery light came on, volts dropped. I had a battery tender unit on the battery(one you install on the batt and leave it),once I took the tender off, restarted the car, the light came off....but its producing only 12.2 volts.


hmmm any ideas...could the batter tender wiring be killing my alt....

What a PITA....
__________________
LGAFF
90 #966-150K miles-sold
92 #234-sold
1987 Callaway TT #17
1991 ZR-1 #1359
LGAFF is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2013   #2
Jagdpanzer
 
Jagdpanzer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 2,661
Default Re: Alternator killer

Can't see how a little trickle charger could wipe out a 120 amp alternator.
If the alternator is not putting out it was probably defective from the get go.
__________________
Phil Wasinger
1994 Torch Red ZR-1
WAZOO Member
George Braml Intake
Jagdpanzer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2013   #3
GOLDCYLON
 
GOLDCYLON's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Peoria, AZ
Posts: 9,155
Default Re: Alternator killer

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jagdpanzer View Post
Can't see how a little trickle charger could wipe out a 120 amp alternator.
If the alternator is not putting out it was probably defective from the get go.
Concur it's not a trickle charge battery tender that's the problem. You also might have an internal cell short within the battery
__________________
GOLDCYLON - 91 ZR-1 #2014
GOLDCYLON - 90 ZR-1 #2794, 4L60e (Formerly Schrade's)

GOLDCYLON - 11 CTS-V


Arizona State Director




91 WHITE/BLACK #2014. 380 P&P&PCed,Ported Heads, Jeal Long tubes, Corsa Exhaust/FIKSE FM-5s /LED TLs, LED Headlights, Front Wilwood 6 piston narrowlite calipers and rear Wilwood caliper street shop mod,CNCed Coolant Pipes,TPI Cvr,Filter cover,Stainless Bolts, DRM/DOM PROM /ZFDOC mod build #102,DRLs,BMAD with stainless Debris Screen,Coplan Air Blaster, Pioneer APP Radio 4,Brey-Krause HB,Sub Bar,Fire extinguisher seat mount,DRM Coilovers,LEDs everywhere,Compass mirror (orange),V1 DIC hidden display, Homelink sun visor, Carbon Fiber top x3 and APSIS Carbon Fiber interior, APSIS CF Steering Wheel/NAPA Leather, Banski trailing arms, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension) ZFDoc drive shaft safety loop, raptor shift light (orange),AO engineering louver front plate, Console seat cushion, 96CE seats with black custom Sheepskins, ss billet catch can,Viper remote entry/alarm,Cragar Rear Louvers,LED side louver lights, Dewitts Radiator with SPAL fans and a Woods 160 T-Stat

90 RED/BLACK #2794. 4L60e Automatic Stage V by RPM Transmission, TCI Dedicated TCM, OBX Stainless Headers, Corsa Exhaust, SAN Secondaries and Haibeck PROM, Exotic Muscle Coil overs, LED Interior Lights, LED Tail Lights, LED Headlights, 94 Sport seats with black custom Sheepskins , Cragar rear louvers, GS Front calipers, Banski Trailing arms, APSIS Carbon Fiber steering wheel, Front and Rear Baer Eradispeeds, DRLs, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension), Dewitt's Raditor with Dual SPAL fans and a Haibeck 170 T-Stat

11 RED/GREY CTS-V
GOLDCYLON is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2013   #4
scottfab
 
scottfab's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Portland Oregon metro area (Washington side)
Posts: 3,207
Default Re: Alternator killer

Quote:
Originally Posted by LGAFF View Post
Replaced the alternator on my 92. Within 2 minutes it was toast also; battery light came on, volts dropped. I had a battery tender unit on the battery(one you install on the batt and leave it),once I took the tender off, restarted the car, the light came off....but its producing only 12.2 volts.


hmmm any ideas...could the batter tender wiring be killing my alt....

What a PITA....
Some troubleshooting needed. Not likely a battery tender at fault.
1. does the battery when disconnected from the car charge up ok?
If a cell is shorted then the pull from an alternator will be outrageous.

2. Assuming battery is ok, what does the field winding voltage go to when the car is running? (small wire pair going to alternator) Could it have been pinched or cut etc? If no 12v on the field winding you car rig a test by disconnecting the connector and supplying 12v straight from the battery. With the car running if the alternator is good it'll pump out about 14V.

You're likely going to have to pull the alternator again. The good news
is you've just done it so it'll go fast. Have it tested (free at O'riely's and other car places as I'm sure you know)
There has to be a warranty on the thing.
Good luck guy.
__________________
Scott


Vett owner since 1979._It's about the car and the people

Last edited by scottfab; 04-20-2013 at 01:17 PM.
scottfab is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2013   #5
LGAFF
 
LGAFF's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Crystal Lake, IL
Posts: 7,194
Default Re: Alternator killer

The battery is new, will have to do some testing....its odd that when I took the tendering wiring off, the batt life no longer illuminated. I have my old alternator off, will have that one test also to see what the issue is...
__________________
LGAFF
90 #966-150K miles-sold
92 #234-sold
1987 Callaway TT #17
1991 ZR-1 #1359
LGAFF is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2013   #6
GOLDCYLON
 
GOLDCYLON's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Peoria, AZ
Posts: 9,155
Default Re: Alternator killer

Quote:
Originally Posted by LGAFF View Post
The battery is new, will have to do some testing....its odd that when I took the tendering wiring off, the batt life no longer illuminated. I have my old alternator off, will have that one test also to see what the issue is...
Lee get a load test done on that "new" battery as well
__________________
GOLDCYLON - 91 ZR-1 #2014
GOLDCYLON - 90 ZR-1 #2794, 4L60e (Formerly Schrade's)

GOLDCYLON - 11 CTS-V


Arizona State Director




91 WHITE/BLACK #2014. 380 P&P&PCed,Ported Heads, Jeal Long tubes, Corsa Exhaust/FIKSE FM-5s /LED TLs, LED Headlights, Front Wilwood 6 piston narrowlite calipers and rear Wilwood caliper street shop mod,CNCed Coolant Pipes,TPI Cvr,Filter cover,Stainless Bolts, DRM/DOM PROM /ZFDOC mod build #102,DRLs,BMAD with stainless Debris Screen,Coplan Air Blaster, Pioneer APP Radio 4,Brey-Krause HB,Sub Bar,Fire extinguisher seat mount,DRM Coilovers,LEDs everywhere,Compass mirror (orange),V1 DIC hidden display, Homelink sun visor, Carbon Fiber top x3 and APSIS Carbon Fiber interior, APSIS CF Steering Wheel/NAPA Leather, Banski trailing arms, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension) ZFDoc drive shaft safety loop, raptor shift light (orange),AO engineering louver front plate, Console seat cushion, 96CE seats with black custom Sheepskins, ss billet catch can,Viper remote entry/alarm,Cragar Rear Louvers,LED side louver lights, Dewitts Radiator with SPAL fans and a Woods 160 T-Stat

90 RED/BLACK #2794. 4L60e Automatic Stage V by RPM Transmission, TCI Dedicated TCM, OBX Stainless Headers, Corsa Exhaust, SAN Secondaries and Haibeck PROM, Exotic Muscle Coil overs, LED Interior Lights, LED Tail Lights, LED Headlights, 94 Sport seats with black custom Sheepskins , Cragar rear louvers, GS Front calipers, Banski Trailing arms, APSIS Carbon Fiber steering wheel, Front and Rear Baer Eradispeeds, DRLs, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension), Dewitt's Raditor with Dual SPAL fans and a Haibeck 170 T-Stat

11 RED/GREY CTS-V
GOLDCYLON is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2013   #7
LGAFF
 
LGAFF's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Crystal Lake, IL
Posts: 7,194
Default Re: Alternator killer

Alt output is "0"
__________________
LGAFF
90 #966-150K miles-sold
92 #234-sold
1987 Callaway TT #17
1991 ZR-1 #1359
LGAFF is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2013   #8
scottfab
 
scottfab's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Portland Oregon metro area (Washington side)
Posts: 3,207
Default Re: Alternator killer

Quote:
Originally Posted by LGAFF View Post
Alt output is "0"
but if the signal from the car (alt control pair) is zero
then the alt could still be ok.
__________________
Scott


Vett owner since 1979._It's about the car and the people
scottfab is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2013   #9
-=Jeff=-
 
-=Jeff=-'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bartlett, IL
Posts: 7,169
Default Re: Alternator killer

Quote:
Originally Posted by LGAFF View Post
Alt output is "0"
Was it tested? How do you know this for certain?

I had an issue with my 89 where one of the Alt wires going back tot he battery broke, causing me to think the Alt was bad when it was a bad/broken wire

are you sure you don't have the wiring shorted anywhere?
__________________
1990 Corvette ZR-1 #1051
Watson Headers (2" Primary) - Flowmaster Cats - Borla Catback
Late Model IH - Plenum
Coilovers - 4.10s
Custom Interior
NCM Lifetime Member #978
-=Jeff=- is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2013   #10
-=Jeff=-
 
-=Jeff=-'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bartlett, IL
Posts: 7,169
Default Re: Alternator killer

Time to crack out the DVM and start checking things
__________________
1990 Corvette ZR-1 #1051
Watson Headers (2" Primary) - Flowmaster Cats - Borla Catback
Late Model IH - Plenum
Coilovers - 4.10s
Custom Interior
NCM Lifetime Member #978
-=Jeff=- is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:11 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ZR-1 Net Registry 2020