4agze alternator dead or is battery too big to keep charge ?

[kravit]

Hey guys,

I was wondering if my alternator needed replacing or I should down size my battery, it's size of battery usualy out of commodore v6 or 8, not sure on size until I get home and check.

Anyone know if this would be problem ?, it's doesn't even have enough to start and I've disconnected the stereo wires.
Usually keep it's charge enough to start for half day, after that I have to disconnect battery to keep it's charge.

[biggo]

start the car up and multi meter the terminal on the alternator. If it shows the same voltage as the battery it's fubar. the size of the battery wont make much of a difference to it holding charge, or you could have an accsory on somewher.

Oh and make sure you always turn the key all the way off, it's happened to me before lol.

What model gze is it?

[Javal]

Battery is possibly gone. New ones are $80<.

However check your alternator first.

Mate of mine (forum member) had a Commodore battery in his AE71 (4ac) and it had no problems charging / starting, so there's no issues there.

[Jonny Rochester]

It sounds like you have a current draw through the sterio/accesories.

Measure battery and alternator voltage with the car running. It should be about 13.8 or 14v, meaning the alternator is good. If the voltage continues to drop while the engine is running, the alternator is bad.

To do a current draw, turn everything off. Take the pos terminal off the batt. Use the mulitmeter on amps, and test the current draw between the pos battery terminal, and the pos connection. If it is over about 0.3amps then you need to rewire your sterio.

[yoshimitsu9]

do you have an alarm? check that too!

[deanoo]

start your car and check what voltage your gettin or you can check by taking a terminal off the battery if the car turns off it's not charging if it stays on it's charging

^^^ check your alarm as well I just fixed my problem last night the alarm was drawing power