1992 buick skylark, the idot light came on recently for low voltage, reads about 10 volts, battery is new, starts but dosen't charge, used to read 13 or 14 volts, car has 130,000 miles sound like a bad alternator? It is the original, I've hears GM alternators on the V6's go out often, thoughts?
Buick elcetrical problem...
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The B+ wire goes to the starter on this car. It has a fusible link there built into the wire. Sometimes the link gets into the cooling fan and gets cut.
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Just had the SAME problem, well.....still an ongoing investigation. Anyway, Advance will hook up the machine to your car in the parking lot for free. My 3.3l '90 had 70 amps pumping out of the alternator, should be 105. Alternator, lifetime warranty, will run you about 70 bucks after core return.
FIrst things first! Romove the -&+ cables! Cut the boot open on the + cable. Clean it out! It will be full of corrosion. I use backing soda and a wire brush. Rinse with plenty of water. Pace the two plates with a good grease and reinstall boot. Tape the boot up. Reinstall both cables and see how she does. If the corission is underneath the insulation for the cable just replace it and be done with it.
If the cables are bad or loaded with corrision no test you perform is going to give useful information!
If the cables are bad or loaded with corrision no test you perform is going to give useful information!
That car likely has one of the famed CS-130 alternators. The same unit on my 1992 Oldsmobile recently started to fail.
I am replacing it with an 'iceberg alternator', which incorporates some design revisions which hopefully improve longevity.
http://www.alternatorparts.com/iceberg.htm
The same site sells both rebuild kits as well as complete alternators with the iceberg kit already fitted.
A google and yahoo search has yet to turn up anything bad on the iceberg kit, so it may very well be one of the solutions to longer alternator life on mid 80s to mid 90s GM vehicles.
I am replacing it with an 'iceberg alternator', which incorporates some design revisions which hopefully improve longevity.
http://www.alternatorparts.com/iceberg.htm
The same site sells both rebuild kits as well as complete alternators with the iceberg kit already fitted.
A google and yahoo search has yet to turn up anything bad on the iceberg kit, so it may very well be one of the solutions to longer alternator life on mid 80s to mid 90s GM vehicles.
It sounds as if it may be the alternator.Take it off and take it to Advance or Autozone or a similar place and get it checked.
These places will usually check them for free.
Be prepared to pay a pretty good price for a replacement if it is the alt.
I replaced the alt. on my 93 Skylark a while back with about 145-150,000 miles on it.
When you work on this car,try not to let the serpentine belt come off of the other pullies,they can be a pain getting back on their correct paths,it is such a tight area where the belt runs that it could be difficult in getting it back on its pullies.
Also,while you have the alt. off,if this is the 3.3,replace the PCV valve if you havent done so lately.It is much easier to replace the PCV valve on the 3.3 with the alt. out of the way.
These places will usually check them for free.
Be prepared to pay a pretty good price for a replacement if it is the alt.
I replaced the alt. on my 93 Skylark a while back with about 145-150,000 miles on it.
When you work on this car,try not to let the serpentine belt come off of the other pullies,they can be a pain getting back on their correct paths,it is such a tight area where the belt runs that it could be difficult in getting it back on its pullies.
Also,while you have the alt. off,if this is the 3.3,replace the PCV valve if you havent done so lately.It is much easier to replace the PCV valve on the 3.3 with the alt. out of the way.
Two things. One was already well said by John Browning. Clean the + & - battery terminals. The side GM term are notorious for corroding up inside the plastic cover where it is not easily seen. And be sure to clean both ends, not just the 'battery' end. You may want to replace the two terminals.Second item- if the low voltage light still comes on- it is probably the voltage regulator inside the alternator. This means you will need to replace the entire alternator. However the voltage regulator costs only $5.50 plus shipping if you were a prof. rebuilder.
I have three of the new and improved Iceburg alternator back plates as shown in the above link. However, I don't know if they are the exact application for your Buick alt. I would be willing to sell you one if you can determine what GM alt you have.
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