Hello all,

I hope someone can help me with this particular problem that sent me home on a towing !

Little story of my car : About 600 miles ago, I had the entire engine removed for a clutch work. The car has k24/18g setup on high octane with all the bolt on etc... Since I had the engine removed and reinstalled, the tech forgot to tighten the ground wire underneath the engine resulting in start failure. At that time, i thought it was the battery, so I bough a brand new battery. Now, the problem has been resolved by tightening the ground wire to the chassis.

Last week, the car started perfect after a two week rest. I was driving to my dad house and once arrived, turned the engine off and voila... I was never able to restart it again. Thinking it was the loose ground, I had the car towed back home. Once home, I plugged in the booster pack and was able to restart the car...

All the electronics, fans, a/c , etc is running good and strong. However, the voltmeter is reading 12V flat while driving in town and when I go on the highway, it goes to 12.7V-12.8V ... I don't remember in the past what is was, but If I am not wrong, it was close to 14V, like 13.8V...

Car has barely 20k on it... what can be my problem ???

Thanks
Bo

 

13.8 is correct. Had a similar problem - except no ground not connected causing a start failute. Mine was the alternator.

My specific description.
https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...ml#post2806659

Entire thread
https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...y-problem.html

 

Thanks for the reply...

My car has barely 20k miles on it... do you really think the alternator can die like that or can it be something else, like controller or something electronic...

 

No idea. Just replying because the story sounded similar.

 

A basic test you can do and it will not damage anything. Connect a voltmeter to the battery connection. Voltage should be over 12 volts. Start the car the voltage should raise to between 13.8 to 14.2 volts. Increase rpm above 1500 the voltage should be around 14.6 and never over 14.8. You can also load the alternator with lights + a/c + fans and the voltage should always stay above 14 volts. If it is under the require voltage you got a dead diode and if it goes above it is a voltage regulator. Both of these unit are inside the alternator and can be replaced by a specialized shop. Again this is a basic test and a more completed one can be done in a good shop. I see you are from Montreal If you live not far from "Les galeries d'Anjou" may be I can take a look at your car.... J.P.

 

jpflip gives good advice.

In my case my alternator failed at 20,000 miles - others have had the same problem at similar mileages, most likely caused by corrosion resulting from washing the car then leaving it to dry.

I got a new replacement alternator for $200 from eBay and changed it myself - took a couple of hours but not difficult.

I still have the original alternator and suspect the problem is just the regulator which could be changed for $30. I opted to change the whole unit just to be sure.

 

"jpflip gives good advice."

He always seems to give good (if not great) advice.

 

Hey,

Anyone knows what is the regulator part# and how to test it ?

Also, can it be related to the tech who took my engine out who did not tighten up something, like with the ground wire that I found ?

 

Hi Jp,

Thanks for the great advice. Funny to see someone from Qc on 6 speed ! If I take the alternator out, do you know someone who can replace de diode if it's the faulty part ?

Thanks
Bo

 

I got an alternator rebuild, long time ago, at "Alternateur de l'est" 3845 Ste Catherine est 514-527-0019. But it's been a long time and I don't know what kind of quality you are going to get from them now. But it is worthed to give it a try....But there is many more in the yellow page.....

 

Merci Jp.. je vais verifier tout cela et faire les test et voir ce qu'il en est... Je trouve juste ca tres etrange et decevant que l'alternateur lache sur une voiture de meme pas 30 000km ...

Cheers
Bo

 

sounds like an alternator to me.. my car did the same thing - it was the alternator

 

like always JP to the rescue ) good job JP!

 

Good let us know what you found!
Bonne chance.

 

You know Alex. How about a good Romanian beer. Cheers!