Anyone here replaced the alternator/starter/battery cable?
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From: Illinois
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Anyone here replaced the alternator/starter/battery cable?
Still fighting my voltage jumping at idle. Goes between 11.5-14 and pulses. I've changed the battery and alt and still no fix. I've read it's really common that these cables can go bad. Anyone have these replaced? Do it yourself?
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it just so happens i have a motor sitting on stands so i grabbed a few pics for you! 
looks like its a diy with some patience. it feeds under the oil tank behind the a/c compressor under the oil filter and up to the jump point and alternator. looks like theres some tie wraps holding it along some other harnesses but doesn't look to awful difficult. remove the a/c compressor and lay over the back of the car. this will get you the most access. no need to remove the a/c lines.
heres a few crappy pics
looks like its a diy with some patience. it feeds under the oil tank behind the a/c compressor under the oil filter and up to the jump point and alternator. looks like theres some tie wraps holding it along some other harnesses but doesn't look to awful difficult. remove the a/c compressor and lay over the back of the car. this will get you the most access. no need to remove the a/c lines.heres a few crappy pics
Before just diving in and replacing the cable: get a voltmeter and measure the voltage at the + connector at the back of the alternator. If the voltage is jumping there, get another new alternator. If not, optimally, you'll work your way down the line and check the voltage at each major connection: starter, battery, fusebox.
And if you'd keep everything in one thread it would be easier to follow...
;-p
And if you'd keep everything in one thread it would be easier to follow...
;-p
Thread Starter
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Registered User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,512
From: Illinois
Rep Power: 132
Before just diving in and replacing the cable: get a voltmeter and measure the voltage at the + connector at the back of the alternator. If the voltage is jumping there, get another new alternator. If not, optimally, you'll work your way down the line and check the voltage at each major connection: starter, battery, fusebox.
And if you'd keep everything in one thread it would be easier to follow...
;-p
And if you'd keep everything in one thread it would be easier to follow...
;-p
I need to find a meter that has long enough cables to reach from the starter to battery. Where on earth do I find that?
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Thread Starter
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Registered User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,512
From: Illinois
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it just so happens i have a motor sitting on stands so i grabbed a few pics for you! looks like its a diy with some patience. it feeds under the oil tank behind the a/c compressor under the oil filter and up to the jump point and alternator. looks like theres some tie wraps holding it along some other harnesses but doesn't look to awful difficult. remove the a/c compressor and lay over the back of the car. this will get you the most access. no need to remove the a/c lines.
heres a few crappy pics
looks like its a diy with some patience. it feeds under the oil tank behind the a/c compressor under the oil filter and up to the jump point and alternator. looks like theres some tie wraps holding it along some other harnesses but doesn't look to awful difficult. remove the a/c compressor and lay over the back of the car. this will get you the most access. no need to remove the a/c lines.heres a few crappy pics
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From: Illinois
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I don't even know what setting to put the volt meter on. I'm so lost when it comes to electrical
Last edited by VGLNTE1; Jun 27, 2015 at 09:40 AM.
+1, and check your ground cable engine to passengers-side frame rail...common for these to be loose or have a 'dirty' connection, release, clean and retighten..
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Looked at the ground and it's clean and tight. Haven't cleaned it yet. Put a volt meter on the battery. Reads 12.8. Started the car and put a load on it. Lights, ac, ect. And fluctuates between 13.2 and 13.8 at idle. But I can see the lights dim a hair every few seconds.
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Digital meter? If so it may be moving even more and not fast enough to see it. Analog meter with a needle may show more swing or maybe even try setting it for AC? Sure sounds like the alternator. If you get another maybe test at the store before leaving if they can do it 
connect a 'hot' wire to the alternator trigger terminal and see if that helps
Looked at the ground and it's clean and tight. Haven't cleaned it yet. Put a volt meter on the battery. Reads 12.8. Started the car and put a load on it. Lights, ac, ect. And fluctuates between 13.2 and 13.8 at idle. But I can see the lights dim a hair every few seconds.
