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Charging System Not Working
Topic Started: Feb 9 2009, 05:25 PM (5,267 Views)
Hacksaw
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Disciple of Johnny Mullet

Hello my fellow Geoholics,

One of my 1995 Metro's has a charging problem that the previous owner couldn't fix. He replaced the battery, alternator, and belt. I haven't yet looked into the matter, but can tell you the fuses under the hood are good. While running, the voltage is 11.47 across the battery terminals, but the battery indicator isn't lit on the dash. It wasn't lit during the 1 hour drive home either, but I did see it lit the following day when I briefly started it. All the grounds look satisfactory as well.

What I'm wondering is, has anyone ever had a no charge condition that can lead me directly to the problem before I start climbing under the dash and hurt my back???

Hacksaw.

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Johnny Mullet
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Fear the Mullet

Check the voltage directly at the alternator to see if the alternator is charging, but it's not making it to the battery and also make sure all the wires to the alternator are good. There could be a broken wire.
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Hacksaw
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Disciple of Johnny Mullet

Thanks for the reply J.M.,
I do have a service manual and will follow the diagnostic steps when I have the time and daylight, I was just hoping there was someone out there that might have knowledge of a common weak point in the system that has been known to fail before. I will definitely post my findings when the issue has been resolved.
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JAMES
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I had the same problem a month ago. I found the connection under the fuse was bad ,follow the wire from the altenator to the fuse on the fenderwell pull both wires out of the bottom of the fuse block, if one of them has turn black then it is bad, you will have to change it.you will need to unbolt fuse block from the fender to get to it. maybe this will help ,it solved my problem.
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Hacksaw
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Disciple of Johnny Mullet

JAMES
Feb 9 2009, 06:24 PM
I had the same problem a month ago. I found the connection under the fuse was bad ,follow the wire from the altenator to the fuse on the fenderwell pull both wires out of the bottom of the fuse block, if one of them has turn black then it is bad, you will have to change it.you will need to unbolt fuse block from the fender to get to it. maybe this will help ,it solved my problem.
That's what I'm talking about! Thanks for your input James, I'll be sure to do a full inspection of the cables, terminals, and fuse block as you suggested.

Anyone else find something similar during their Metro ownership?
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metromad


My only experience with not charging was with a bad alternator. I second JM's advice to check that.
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Bad Bent
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Facetious Educated Donkey

My problem was the stud/nut where you attach the cable to the alternator was loose. Snug that down before you attach the cable to the alternator.
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Cobb
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You might want to consider doing the big 3 upgrade. Ive done it to a few cars and man, it makes a world of difference. Basically you buy a few battery cables that are pre terminal and 4 guage. Get one to hook from the hot side of the alternator to the hot side of the battery. One from the ground of the battery to the block and one from the ground of the battery to the frame. If the indopidence is not 0 across the car or halves, you might want to add additional wires. My scion xa was like this and grounding it made the radio better, increased throttle response and madeit idle smoother and lower.

The quickest way to tell if the alternator is working is to see if it will attract a screw driver to the case. If its a big old electric magnet, you know its working and its the path. Uses brushs can cause funny problems and are easily to replace when they wear out.
Edited by Cobb, Feb 9 2009, 11:46 PM.
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Hacksaw
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Disciple of Johnny Mullet

I actually tried the screwdriver test and didn't feel a magnetic field at all....I did the same on my daily driver and didn't feel anything there either....???

I have a grounding kit on my DD as well, but didn't notice any positive effects, only looks better now.

The guy I bought it from told me he put the new alternator on the car and still had the problem. He removed it and had it tested and re-installed it after it passed.

I'll try to probe the alt. for output voltage when the sun comes up.
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jeff


Something to consider........as previous posts mentioned, age starts to creep up on all things mechanical. Upgrades/more under the hood maintenance seems to help reliability on just about any given piece of equipment. Cobb's reply reminded me of an old Pinto years ago. A simple extra ground from engine to frame fixed my electrical gremlins. (The car was a high mileage vehicle). Motor on my Geo brothers.
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billy508
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billy508

Check your grounds, Checked your grounds LOL :evillol We seem to hear that everytime a problem comes up. My headlights have been getting dim in my 81 ford truck. Problem? You guessed it. Bad ground Duh OH yea I put a gm one wire alt on the 302 ford. Matches almost perfect, just enlarge the mounting hole a little bit. You can google to see how to jump the regulator or I will post it if anyone wishes to know. :drivin :drivin
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Hacksaw
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Disciple of Johnny Mullet

The brand new "World Class" alternator that the previous owner installed was the problem. He told me he had it tested, but obviously they didn't know what they were doing. Since "275" is out of commission with a burnt valve for now, I robbed the Bosch alternator and Gatorback belt from it and put it on "400"...problem solved. I have the receipt for the new "World Class" alternator so I'll exchange it for another and put it on "275" when I fix the valve issue down the road.

Earlier today, I tinkered around with adding grounds and actually replaced the negative battery cable with a spare I had as well. All that for nothing.
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Johnny Mullet
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Fear the Mullet

At least you found the problem! Now to fix the dim headlight on "500" :)
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Hacksaw
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Disciple of Johnny Mullet

Johnny Mullet
Feb 10 2009, 09:00 PM
At least you found the problem! Now to fix the dim headlight on "500" :)
Actually, her name is "489", but who's counting.....Well, I guess I must be... ;)
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MichaelSAlford
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I have the exact same problem, although mine is also intermittent! I have already done EVERYTHING listed here, plus put my hands on,(as far as I can tell) every inch of every wire of the charging system, but to no avail. Does the ECM have anything to do with the charging system? It's included in the wiring diagram, but it's purpose seems murky.
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