Alternator/Battery Problem

1997 FORD CONTOUR
75,000 MILES
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JEFFRD390
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I was driving down the road and went over some railroad tracks pretty rough and after that everything went dim and it died took the battery up to autozone they charged it to 100% car started back up drove for a couple days and it dies again had autozone check the battery and alternator both tested good
Jun 8, 2012 at 4:07 AM
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SATURNTECH9
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So the battery goes dead while driving?Do you have a multimeter to do some testing?
Jun 8, 2012 at 4:20 AM
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JEFFRD390
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the first time i took it out it was a week after it died and it was completly dead but i just check it with my multimeter and its reading 11.88 volts but i took it out of the car a few hours ago but i dont think that makes a differance
Jun 8, 2012 at 6:30 AM
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JEFFRD390
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and i should mention that when i jump the car it will start but die a few minutes later
Jun 8, 2012 at 6:33 AM
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SATURNTECH9
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So did auto zone check the alternator in the car or in the store?Put the battery in the car start it up and let me know what the voltage at the battery is at idle?Also have you inspected the battery cables to make sure there clean and tight on both ends of them?
Jun 8, 2012 at 3:12 PM
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JEFFRD390
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they check the alternator on the car its a pain in the rear to get the alternator out to bench test it im getting ready to go put the battery back in the car ill let you know what i find
Jun 8, 2012 at 4:14 PM
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SATURNTECH9
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Alright let me know what you find.
Jun 8, 2012 at 4:42 PM
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JEFFRD390
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Ok put the battery back in and got it started my multimeter read 13.98 volts then slowly went down to 10.5 when I rev the engine it goes back up so I shut off the car and the battery went back to 11.89volts
Jun 8, 2012 at 5:12 PM
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SATURNTECH9
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Alright so at idle the voltage drops slowly like its running off the battery?Then when you rev it up the voltage goes back up to just inder 14 volts?If so how did it ever pass the alternator test?
Jun 8, 2012 at 5:23 PM
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SATURNTECH9
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Really simple wiring to the alternator see if you have battery voltage to the red wire and the green and black wire at the alternator?Also make sure all the connections are tight?Before checking the connections unhook the negative battery cable.
Jun 8, 2012 at 5:29 PM
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JEFFRD390
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Alright I'll try and check that if I can get to the wire
Jun 8, 2012 at 8:09 PM
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SATURNTECH9
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Let me know what you find.
Jun 8, 2012 at 8:17 PM
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JEFFRD390
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i couldnt get to the wire its buried and the only way to get to it is to take the passenger tire off along with the wheel well i think its time to unload it and get something different
Jun 9, 2012 at 1:26 AM
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SATURNTECH9
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Thats up to you let me know if you need anymore help.
Jun 9, 2012 at 2:51 AM