280zx alternator charging issue
01-21-2010, 10:22 PM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 6
280zx alternator charging issue
i thought my battery was dead so i baught a new one and it turned out it was the alternator because when i started the car, it only read 12.3v. I replaced the alternator and the only issue im having now is I have to kick the rpms to 3500 to get the alternator to kick on and start charging after that it reads 14v+.
when i start it up it reads 12.8-13.6v but when i drive at night and forget to kick the alternator on, the lights drain out the battery, everything is fine if i rev it past 3500 rpm and let it go, the voltage will stay at 14+.
could it be the alternator belt, i haven't had the chance to replace it and sometimes it squeels even though its tight
when i start it up it reads 12.8-13.6v but when i drive at night and forget to kick the alternator on, the lights drain out the battery, everything is fine if i rev it past 3500 rpm and let it go, the voltage will stay at 14+.
could it be the alternator belt, i haven't had the chance to replace it and sometimes it squeels even though its tight
01-22-2010, 06:51 PM
#5
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 341
i thought my battery was dead so i baught a new one and it turned out it was the alternator because when i started the car, it only read 12.3v. I replaced the alternator and the only issue im having now is I have to kick the rpms to 3500 to get the alternator to kick on and start charging after that it reads 14v+.
when i start it up it reads 12.8-13.6v but when i drive at night and forget to kick the alternator on, the lights drain out the battery, everything is fine if i rev it past 3500 rpm and let it go, the voltage will stay at 14+.
could it be the alternator belt, i haven't had the chance to replace it and sometimes it squeels even though its tight
when i start it up it reads 12.8-13.6v but when i drive at night and forget to kick the alternator on, the lights drain out the battery, everything is fine if i rev it past 3500 rpm and let it go, the voltage will stay at 14+.
could it be the alternator belt, i haven't had the chance to replace it and sometimes it squeels even though its tight
I knew it was going to go, but didn't wanna spend the $, so I just wound it up a little and it worked for 3 yrs. That's less than 3k miles for me.Finally last year I had to breaak down and spend 20$ at the wrecking yard to get one that worked right. I've got another engine scheduled for mine, and I'd hoped to have it in before my alt went out...
It has a better alt....something like 200amp...Far as the squealing goes, that belt system works fine when eveything's up to snuff, but let the battery get low, and alternator not kick in until 3500, and a NEW well adjusted belt will squeal too.
OH, mine kicked in about 12-1400, yours is much worse off. I had an alt do this on my 70 datsun pu, and as time went by, I kept having to turn it faster to get it to kick in. I gave up on it when it took 15,750RPM to make it work.(before everybody says I can't/didn't,yes, I did turn it 16k, I had 2 su carbs, turned 7k engine, and drive ratio was 2.25)
One other thing, an AZ load test has little chance of finding it, it works fine at speed, and that's the only way they test.
Last edited by bojo68; 01-22-2010 at 07:12 PM.
01-23-2010, 07:18 PM
#6
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Southaven Mississippi
Posts: 2,053
Same here about the belts. Although i have the issue of the alt not staying tight. i pound those three bolts as tight as i can, and it just gets loose again. and i never hear the belt squeal, i have had elect problems in the past with it, so i always keep an eye on my gauges, with these cars. you should.
01-23-2010, 07:23 PM
#7
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 341
Same here about the belts. Although i have the issue of the alt not staying tight. i pound those three bolts as tight as i can, and it just gets loose again. and i never hear the belt squeal, i have had elect problems in the past with it, so i always keep an eye on my gauges, with these cars. you should.
01-24-2010, 06:24 AM
#8
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Southaven Mississippi
Posts: 2,053
i bought one of those Adjustable custom brackets like MSA sells. but i found it somewhere else for 20$ cheaper. Part of that 2K parts spendin spree i went on. Just got to get home to install all the parts now.
01-24-2010, 05:17 PM
#9
eff good grammar
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Deadford OR
Posts: 1,578
i've had the same problem although with a VG alternator, they burn out fast to begin with but i got a reman and it was dead off the bat, it does have a lifetime warranty though and i did pull it and install it in my 280zx since the factory alternator wasnt able to produce the juice it used to any more.
it was a well worth swap
it was a well worth swap
01-25-2010, 02:28 PM
#12
01-25-2010, 03:31 PM
#13
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 341
There are a few Lincoln's around with an ice melting option for the windshield that have a ~200 amp alternator, although I can't see any reasonable use for one.l
01-26-2010, 01:08 PM
#16
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 341
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Sixer
280ZX Performance / Technical
4
04-15-2010 03:59 PM
Bookmarks
