Alternator?

[Utah Blaine]

I had the engine running today and took the negative battery cable off and the car died. Am I to assume the alternator is no good? I have no gauges or warning lights yet so (fuses probably) no red light to observe.

[bob k. mando]

probably.

many auto parts stores have a test fixture for alternators / starters, go in and have it tested for free.

if you get a voltmeter, you can do a pretty accurate test yourself
1 - test batt voltage with the ign off, should be ~12.5v
2 - start engine, voltage should rise to high 13s, maybe 14

Jamie sells new alts as well.

[telriv]

Normally removing the battery cable on a vehicle with an alternator "Fries" the alternator. Usually the diodes which are easily replaceable.

[Utah Blaine]

Normally removing the battery cable on a vehicle with an alternator "Fries" the alternator. Usually the diodes which are easily replaceable.

if you get a voltmeter, you can do a pretty accurate test yourself
1 - test batt voltage with the ign off, should be ~12.5v
2 - start engine, voltage should rise to high 13s, maybe 14

Found a voltmeter and tested it. Showed bad. Pulled it out and found where the dang mice had eaten a wire off at the pigtail that clips into the alternator. Making that 40 mile trip tomorrow to the parts store and have them test it and buy a new pigtail & maybe a new alternator too.

Thanks guys

[bob k. mando]

found where the dang mice had eaten a wire off at the pigtail


yeah, that'll do 'er.

[telriv]

I guess in a long about way you may be able to thank the mice for eating through that wire as it may have saved your alternator when you pulled off the battery cable with the engine running.

[Utah Blaine]

That's what I was hoping but its not to be. I wish I could remember why I parked the car in the first place. Maybe it was because the alt. went out and I didn't want to fool with fixing it. I parked it right after I bought a new p/u. Oh well, it'll be back on the road in a couple of months. Maybe, man there is a load of stuff to do to it. Got any ideas on cleaning out the gas tank?

['51 Special]

About cleaning the gas tank: If the vehicle it has sat for years and may be rusted though, you can expect to take it off and use any of the available "gas tank etch" cleaners, or take it in for a professional cleaning/repair. That will let you know if it is usable or salvageable. If it just has the sticky residue of dried gas and dirt, and is sitting on tires and suspension, I have had good luck draining the tank (if it is not already dry), pouring in a gallon of good carb cleaner, and alternatively rocking the vehicle and letting it sit, for a couple of days. (That trick once saved me from having to pull the tank on a VW bus, which first requires removing the engine, etc.)

[Utah Blaine]

About cleaning the gas tank: If the vehicle it has sat for years and may be rusted though, you can expect to take it off and use any of the available "gas tank etch" cleaners, or take it in for a professional cleaning/repair. That will let you know if it is usable or salvageable. If it just has the sticky residue of dried gas and dirt, and is sitting on tires and suspension, I have had good luck draining the tank (if it is not already dry), pouring in a gallon of good carb cleaner, and alternatively rocking the vehicle and letting it sit, for a couple of days. (That trick once saved me from having to pull the tank on a VW bus, which first requires removing the engine, etc.)

What a great idea!! Carb cleaner will degunk anything. Yea its sat on rubber and had a 1/4 tank of gas when parked. It would be easy to drop the tank. I can really shake it up then. Thanks