BakaSama

Most places like Autozone or Advance Autoparts don't charge to test an alternator, they have a special machine that can test them off the car.

It's possible that it could cause a problem, but doesn't seem likely to me... I would think there would be something visible if that cable were shorted somewhere. Plus that would probably blow the black fuseable link (that's for the alt).

mikewiebe1987

so my buddy just sold me the car, 600 bucks, 340 k runs like a champ, bad wheel bearings, engines tired, typical 340k, anyhoo it wont hold a charge, i hate electronics my background is heavy duty where the battery's for one thing, the starter, i can't figure out what the hell is draining this car, and i dont know where to begin, my buddy claims new battery, and new rebuilt lordco alt, but you never know, so anyone know what my best bet fora diagnostics would be? i dont mind payin an hou rof labour for somone to tell me what the F it is, i heard lordco diags' alt's...true? please advice anyone who knows more than me im beyond frustrated

BakaSama

Well if you aren't sure if the alt is good or not, pull it out and get it tested. Sounds like it's bad to me.

mikewiebe1987

hmmm they would charge for somthing like that eh? i thought you could only test it if the alt were in the car, at least thats what iw as told :S
also ....they were using like thick guage speaker wire but i swapped taht out same problem, is it possible that could have caused like a short or somthing and damaged the alt? again i know nothing about electrical

Lynium

Hey there, I just bought a 200sx a couple weeks ago.. some fool had the intake off and all the vac hoses were hooked up wrong if at all etc etc... everyone thought the car was foobared.. but after fixing all this and putting a new thermostat in it, i had one lil problem,
it wouldnt charge... finding an altenator was impossible and i found an electric motor rebuild place and took it in... which buy the way is far cheaper than goin n buying a new altenator, or risking gettin one from a scrap yard...

anyways, they tested it, and was almost like new... (And they didnt charge me to test it...)

anyways, long storey short, several mins with a test light found the fusible link dealy (That little wire) was broken/burnt out preventing an initial charge from getting to the alt. a few.

Soon as i fixed that, i fired my lil Nissy up and lo and behold, it runs great now, and it fixed the remaining idle problems i had as well...

Anyways, just a thought, grab a test light and with the key in the on position, test on both sides of the wire down on the connectors... (My wire was broken in the middle and right by the connector...

Just a thought anyways...

$110 = 1 fine runnin nissy 200 sx ex