With no equipment to check things, you ... (archive)

Hi,
I was hoping someone could help. Excuse the length, I thought thought more detail may provide an easier diagnosis. I've had this '73 csi for six months and replaced the battery just after I bought it. Everything was dandy until about three months ago I went away for two weeks and returned to find the battery completely dead without explanation. The service mobile guy started the car off his battery and then suggested I take a long drive to charge the battery. I drove for about an hour, turned the car off after which it failed to restart. The small amont of charge couldn't start the engine and could barely power the hazard lights. A mechanic across the road looked at it, said the alternator was fine, but the relatively new battery was faulty (he said it wouldn't accept charge from the alternator) and must be replaced. My regular mechanic sent over a replacement and everything was great until about two weeks later I put the headlights on whilst idling and the engine revs fell and then stalled. It restarted, but idled unevenly and would stall without revving. I recharged the battery and everything was cool until a week or two later and again the same problem. So, I'm just recharging it regularly which is a pain. I don't have any equipment to check things. Could it be anthing else other than the alternator?
Cheers,
Matt

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cannot check anything, but the first thing I'd do is to check for a drain with the ignition off.

Disconnect the battery at the negative post and touch the connector to a 12 bulb (tail lamp is fine) outter barrel, then touch the center bulb contact to the battery post. It should blink on, then die out completely. If it stays on bright or dim, you have something that is NOT turning off in your electrical system.

To test the alternator as well as the in-car circuits, Radio Shack sells a system checker for about $8 that has several LEDs that are voltage calibrated and are marked to indicate proper charging voltage, etc.

You can't get away for less $ to test things than that!

You can remove the alternator and take it to a parts store and they can check it alone, but that doesn't eliminate a wiring problem in teh car's harness.

Follow Ups:

Absolutely wrong! Don 18:06 11/15/2000 (7)
- Sorry, I have to add another story Devinder 17:47 11/16/2000 (3)
  - Along those same lines... dang 16:24 11/17/2000 (1)
    - Re: Along those same lines... sean @eyesopen 01:30 11/19/2000 (0)
  - Another sad case of Voltophobia. n/m Bob 00:29 11/17/2000 (0)
- Better than stolen kidney internet folklore Devinder 17:38 11/16/2000 (0)
- Hahahahahah Steve F 06:42 11/16/2000 (0)
- Just WHAT are you smoking? Bob 01:24 11/16/2000 (0)

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