I have a 99' Firehawk which I don't get to drive very much and recently I got it out of storage and tried to fire it up.

First I started to jump it and it started first crank, but when the cables were taken off, I pretty much lost all power.

The battery was pretty much dead and I didn't have enough time to fully charge it, so being an old one anyway, I bought a new one and put it on.

I hooked it up and it started fine, but my gauge showed it in the red on the mark between 8-13. I drove it for about 20 miles and the alternator showed no signs of charging the battery. Check gauge light was on and it was obvious that the car was only running on the battery.

My question is, could sitting for so long (6-9 months) have anything to do with the alternator? Are there any things I need to check before I replace the alternator? (fuses etc) If it does need to be replaced, what is the best avenue to go? How much should that cost??

Thanks for your help guys!

 

I once was so oblivious (i dont know how) that I didnt notice my heavy steering, and my belt had slipped off on start-up somehow. that will definitely cause your alternator to not work. I realized I had a problem when I made it 5 miles and check gauges came on with no battery charge.

but if your battery was dead, you probably have a drain somewhere or a small short, like you said, most likely in the alternator.

TO TEST ALTERNATOR:

step one: buy voltmeter

step two: start car

step 3: put the voltmeter setting to +20V

step 4: put negative probe to a ground, and positive probe to the positive terminal on the alternator

DONE! if it reads ANYTHING under 12v you have a bad alternator

 

Thank you. I will take a look at that. I see you are from Tulsa and I am too. I am in Stillwater right now but over the break will be working on it.

Any idea how much I should pay or where to buy?

 

hey if you are having a hard time with testing that alternator or dont have a voltmeter, I have no problem with coming over to help you if the car is in tulsa. (assuming that you're in school as well)

As far as where to take it if you have other problems or if its not the alternator, there is an electrical shop on 55th and mingo called superior electric or something like that. I had a loose ground somewhere that was impossible to track down and they got me fixed up for only $100. and if its just your alternator, there is an awesome re-build / swap shop on 15th and sheridan called alternators and starters (simple huh), only cost me 60 dollars last time I used them.

 

wicked car by the way. its fun seeing pictures of other's cars all on the same dyno and at the same shop.

 

Wow that sounds great! I will let you know about coming over to test things. I have pretty fancy charger and when the car is on and I have it check to see what the alternator is putting out, it reads 0. On my truck it showed 85%.

I don't have a great place to work on the car at the moment but would like to do the labor if it isn't too big of a job... does the alternator shop do installation or just rebuilds?

Send me a PM and we can swap some information. I am in school right now but have thanksgiving break Wed-Mon. Almost finished at OSU!