jesseschemm

The original alternator died in my 96 TL with 161k miles. This is my 3rd rebuilt alternator, and both the battery and alternator test good, but the alternator is not charging the battery with voltage more than 13... after driving with lights and stereo on for 20 minutes, car nearly dies. Checked the battery again... volts check at 8.5 after drive. Five minutes later with car off goes to 11v. Can not drive car for more than about 20 minutes before failure begins and is imminent. Please help.

raigen18

Did you check to make sure your connections are good? Nothing loose and no corrosion on cables?

tempetom

I wonder if it could possibly be the cables? Sometimes they can look fine, but be very corroded under the insulation. Can you bend them and see if they seem to crunch inside? Probably a long shot, but it won't cost anything to try,

jesseschemm

Ok so i went out to check the battery cables, they seem fine. i was getting ready to take the alternator off and have it checked when i noticed the crankshaft pulley was free, freely spinning. now about two weeks ago we threw that belt and ever since than its been clicking, i thought it was a tensioner but it turns out it was the crank shaft pulley. Im pretty sure that's the reason for the alternator not charging the battery.

white2.5tl

if you have a 2.5 tl, you have a charging issue, and replace the battery and alternator, most likely the crank pulley where the alternating belt connect to is broken loose. happen to me too..

jesseschemm

It was the pulley... at the shop now to have that and the timing belt done. Wish I could do those myself, but glad to have an answer. Thanks!

white2.5tl

iirc, doing anything above 3.5k+ rpm, the belt tighten and charges the battery. anything below that, it drains the battery..