Hello all. I hope I'm not alone in this because is a weird one. I've searched and I can't find anything. I've been having peculiar charging problems since I changed to a set of World S/R Torquers last year. In fact, the car won't idle after 10 minutes of run time. My voltage starts out at about 14.5 to 14.6 after start up, and the battery is fine and holds charges. But, every half a minute or so after start-up, the charging voltage drops....very gradually. It will drop about 20 millivolts/minute intially until the car warms up and the fans go on, at which point the charging voltage tanks. It drops on the gauge as well as on my multimeter. When the car goes into drive, it drops even further. Within a short time, the car will barely idle, and it often dies.

Here's what I think is going on. When the heads went on last year, the problem started. It looks as though (I hope I'm not nuts) all of the accessories have been moved slightly inboard: toward the centerline of the car. After the head swap, I noticed that my belt tensioner was at the bottom of its range. In fact, the pointer is actually outside the range. I think that as the car heats up, even more tension is lost with belt stretch, and after 20 minutes or so, the car bogs and stumbles off idle, voltage tanks and if I put on any high amp accessories (lights, etc.) it sometimes dies. Adding to this is the "high-amp" alternator with its really small diameter pulley and its position (the car has a Vortech so the alternator is relocated two feet or so lower on the driver's side than stock) and I think I've got a serious belt slip problem. It's so weird because if I press on the belt, it doesn't deflect more than 1/2" but that tension gauge has got to be there for something and I cannot explain it any other way. Does any of this resonate with anyone??? I'd really like to get this car back into service. Thanks in advance to all who respond.

 

Have you check the grounds connections on the back of the head? maybe your loosing ground there.

 

Yes, that I've already done. In fact, every visible ground that I could get multimeter leads to I checked, and they're all tight and in good shape. I know this is a weird problem, but I figure someone's got some pointers on this one.

 

Have you had the alternator tested to see if it is charging the battery? Had the belt & tensioner replaced? checked to see if you might have a pinched wire going from the starter to the alternator?

 

I haven't actually had the alternator tested at a parts store, I've just been monitoring its performance progressively, from startup until the problems begin. I've done this with both a good multimeter and a load tester with a meter on it so I'm confident that I'm getting good charging numbers.....when the belt is cold and hasn't stretched yet. I just piggybacked a 2 gauge charge wire on the stock one as per the directions of National Quick Start's web page, and the charging rate just after startup went from around 14.25 volts to 14.66 volts with the addition of the extra cable only. I'll have to check for that pinched wire, but I don't think that's the cause.

Up until 10 minutes after I started the thread last night, I was under the impression that I could not get the right sized belt....I had checked part numbers on CSKAuto's website at 1/2" intervals and didn't turn up anything between 93.0 and 91.5 inches. I know for a fact that the 91.5 incher is too short, so at least that much I've established. I found out shortly afterward that 92.2 and 92.3 inch belts do exist and seeing as my tensioner goes all the way to the bottom of its range when I install the belt I have (93.0"), I think my initial assessment might be correct. If I get the belt and the problem remains, I'll have the alternator checked. More than likely it'll be on its way out. Thank you.