alternator going bad??

[MoTox8410]

Vehicle: 93 Z34 auto

 

So i replace the thermostat in my car and going for a test ride and i notice that the voltage meter is draining quickly so i turn around and try to get back home before it stalls which did not happen so i had to tow it.

 

 

anyways i dont think that changeing the thermostat had anything to do with it but for the past week or so it had been stalling at idle or at A stop or low RPMS about a week before i noticed any problem i installed a an 800 watt amp

 

it was throwing code

32- EGR FAILURE

34-the ECM has a low signal voltage from the MAP sensor

35-ECM has seen an error in the ability of the IAC to control the vehicle idle speed

 

when i changed the thermostat i also cleaned the EGR and it seemed to fix the idle problem and was no longer throwing any codes and the the car was running great and giving heat off for the first time in months

 

So my question is obviously whats the problem??is there anything i can do before i have to replace the alternator??speaking of the alternator is there a write up er something on it for changeing it ??

 

thanks in advance and sorry for the long post

[Dan94Z34]

take a volt meter and attach it to the battery terminals with the car running. The voltage sould be 14-14.5 volts, this means the altanator is charging or working. If you get a battery voltage reading around high 12 to 13 volts, then it is not charging or not working.

[MoTox8410]

i no this but what are some other things that would give the same symptoms but but easier to check and change

[1990lumina]

I don't know what else it could be, but I'm guessing the alternator was dying before and the 800watt amp was the killer...this is the time where I feel sorry for you 3.4 guys!

 

EDIT: Wouldn't a lower voltage situation result in some wierd electricial problems and possible codes being thrown?

 

The alternator change on my slow 3.1 took 30mins lol.

 

Anyway good luck!!

[MoTox8410]

yeah thats what i figured so is there a write up also is how hard would it be to change the timing and serpentine belt while i was down there

[Regal_GS_1989]

Check the battery terminals and make sure that they are tight. My moms 97 Lumina was idling funny, the lights would go dim, and the car would want to stall when you would step on the brakes, it was hard starting, things like that. The car didn't have a volt gauge. I test the alt. with a multimeter and it showed 14.8V. I was like WTF!!!. Anyways, went to start the car and it was dead. turns out the negative battery terminal came loose. If you can. remove the cables from the battery, and then reattach them.

[1990lumina]

http://www.60degreev6.com/index.php?p=pages&pid=4

 

Above link I found doing a search on this site, however when I clicked it there was nothing there, but maybe because I'm not a member of that site...the link was from July 02/2004

 

- Jeff L.[/url]