ksr

Have had a little problem recently with my '88 GTA.

Took it out about 10 days ago. When I was making a right turn with signal on, all the lights dimmed a bit and the alternator reading dropped to about 10-11 volts. The alternator typically reads 14-15 volts. It went pack to normal after maybe 2/10s of a mile.

Today, 10 days later, I went to start the car and it didn't have enough juice and I had to jump it. Drove about 30 miles and mostly the car was fine. But three different times, the alternator output dropped again, temporarily. I was daytime so the lights weren't on and so, there was no obvious dimming.

Each time this has happened it seems to have started after using a turn signal. Possible relation there?

And the first time this happened 10 days ago, it was just after I hit a fairly deep pothole and gave the car a good shake. Maybe some ground wire shook loose?

Any ideas? Both the alternator and battery are 18 months old, so I think they're in good shape.

Thank you in advance.

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Sounds to me like brushes (inside the alt) sticking in their holder.

ksr

The does seem possible. I may be placing too much faith in my 18-month old alternator. Of course, it is some Chinese import from AC Delco, so who knows.

I actually have the original alternator, maybe I'll put it back in. When I put the new one in, I assumed my two-hear old Interstate battery couldn't have already gone bad. It did. (First battery I've had go bad in less than five years.) But I left the new alternator in place.

ksr

Another bad Interstate battery. This one lasted 18 months. The prior one two years. Time to try another brand.

DynoDave43

iTrader: (11)

That's a disappointing experience from a once proud brand.

ksr

Maybe it's bad luck, or maybe it's not the batteries. As far as I know, the alternator - also 18 months old - is fine. Before I started having problems, it showed a pretty steady 14 volts on the dash.

Interstate doesn't even make their stuff, as far as I know. I think Exide makes Interstate-branded batteries.

With the first one that died, my GTA had its original alternator. Since that battery was only two years old, I figured it must be the alternator when I couldn't start the car. Put in a new alternator, same problem. Then I discovered that the battery had leaked underneath (should have checked for that first). Now with this one, still with the new alternator in the car, another battery leaking after 18 months.

Oh, and I don't think it's the charging system. Between these two Interstate batteries, there was another. I actually bought a DieHard from Advanced Auto Parts (now their house brand) when I discovered that the two-year old Interstate was leaking. Still had issues with the DieHard, Took the car to my mechanic, and the DieHard had a bad cell. They checked out the charging system and said it was fine. So that's when they installed the current leaking Interstate.

Definitely going to try a different brand this time around.