In October, for the first time, my 1995 LeSabre lost all power for a second while I was driving. The dash lights came on as if I had just started the car. Two months later, the car started doing this again. It was worse, the car lost power for about 2-3 seconds. The needles on the spedomoter and gauges went down, then back up when the power returned. One time, the radio settings had to be reset. I had the battery checked and it was at 11.3 volts (after driving it 7 miles, I had it charged later and it was up to 12 volts).


I ended up buying anew battery. The power hasn't cut off since I bought the battery. The battery guage is now at 16-17. Someone told me I would burn the battery out if I didn't get the problem fixed. They said it was the alternator. It had checked out find at O'Riley's when they checked it.


Myfriend said thealternator must be bad and I bought one.After having it replaced. I cranked up the car and it was running at 16 on the guage. He said it should be at 14. He checked my battery and it was a little low but said the new alternator would charge it up.


It's been a couple days and now the guage shows 17. I try to run my lights and ac/heat to get it down a little but I'm at a loss as what the problem could be.


Thanks for any help you can offer,


Brian









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&lt; src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" =text/&gt; </>Yes, that's too high, but how are you reading it? The factory gauges are very cheap, and often inaccurate. If you are reading over 14.5 on a good voltmeter, then my guess is that your new alternator is bad. I don't really know about O'Riley's, but many of the suppliers will provide cheap rebuilds and "cover" it with a guaranty.Problem is that doesn't cover your time and trouble to replace it.


PS: if you're able to check the electrolyte level in the battery, you can tell if its being overcharged. If that is the case, the level will fall. You can't exactly burn out the battery, but if the level falls below the plates, it will be damaged.


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</>Edited by: MrBSS

I'll try to get someone to read it with a voltmeter. As for checking electrolyte levels, this battery is sealed. Not knowing anything about cars, does that mean I can't check the levels? Also, someone told me that if I run the engine for 15 min and then feel the battery, I can tell it is overcharging if it is hot when I touch it. Is that true?


I'll let you know what the voltmeter shows when I have that done. Would I be able to get someone at O'Riley's or Autozone to check the alternator with a voltmeter? Ihad someone at O'Riley's check my last alternator and they said it was fine.I'm not sure if that was a voltmeter or not. As I said, I knownothing about cars.


Thanks,


Brian

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O.K., but don't keep repeating that you know nothing about cars...we're not talking brain surgery here!


I guess you'd have to ask the store what they'd be willing to do, but it seems likely that they would. I think their testing equipment (in store) would read amperage and voltage. They probably also have a hand held multimeter that they could bring out to your car.


Or you can buy a meter and do it yourself. Don't know what they cost nowadays, but I'd guess about $10. Just go to WalMart or somewhere and get a voltmeter (or multimeter on which you can select aDC voltage position) and touch the black probe to the negative battery terminal and the red to the positive. With the engine running, ideally with someone stepping on the gas a bit, see how high the voltage goes.


Some batteries are really sealed, but most nowadays have caps that can be pryed off. However, that isn't as good as putting a voltmeter on it, and I don't think you could tell much by touch unless it was really being fried.



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NO, a volt meter is a GOOD idea. why would that be bad?


i have had experiance with inaccurate gauges. eg, my 92 pa said 16+ volts on the dash. my meter said a lil over 14 volts.


i would suggest you check the battery voltage with a meter with everything off. and then with every load possible on. the difference should only be slight. and this is to be done with the eng running.

Thanks y'all,


I'll try to get that checked tomorrow.


Brian

this sounds crazy to me but it worked for me i took the cleaner shot 2 cans in there andputsome grease in it.think the diodes were stiking