86 volvo 240 dl wagon

181k miles, very well maintained.

We replaced alternator with 80 amp unit (twice) and replaced the battery but
I got stuck yeseterday - died on a freeway exit ramp stop light. had to be
towed home.

I charged the battery at home, and it started fine - what could be caused
this problem?
regards,
John

 

Hi John, when you say that you replaced the alternator twice, the
alternators that you are installing, are they rebuilt?, did you measure the
voltage out of the alternator with load on ( headlights on, rear defroster
on, and fan blowing?)
the voltage at the battery should be around 14.0 Volts. Check for ground
wire from the alternator case to chassis, and from -batt to chassis. When
the alternator failed, did you see all the warning lights except for oil
pressure on?
Please measure the voltage, check your wires and lights and post again.

Arnold

 

yes, alternators were rebuit and tested before we bought.

alt case has good ground.

when it failed sunday, I didnt notice any lights on the dash - not even oil
pressure.

tonight before I started the motor, the only light i noticed was seatbelt
and oil pressure.

I think my brother broke a water temp sender wire when he put the alt in.

charger ws on 2amps automatic charge for 2 days prior to test, then drove
around the block.

battery volts at rest is 12.78 appx.

battery volts when running 12.5 appx.

battery volts when running with lights on 12.3 appx.

didn't get to check alt output as the rains came.
will do friday and let you know.
john

 

Test the system to see if you are drawing current while it is off.
Then, check the fuse block with a multimeter.

My automatic door lock relay went south and suddenly it was drawing
a full amp all the time(all four doors trying to engage all the time).

Disconnected the relay(manual locks now-no big loss) and everything
worked perfectly.

 

now that I think of it, I wonder if the dash bulb is burned out for the
battery/alternator indicator.
I don't see it on when I turn the key to run with the engine off.
john

 

You're on to something there John. The only time I've ever been stranded in
a Volvo was because I didn't notice the alternator light was not coming on
with the key in the run position before starting the motor. In my case it
was a failed voltage regulator with plenty of brushes but bad internals.
With a new alternator your issue is more likely the bulb or the small
exciter wire to the alternator as Arnold described. How is the engine
harness on your car, any flaking insulation as was so common on the '80-87
Volvos? \
Good luck tracking it down, you are on the right track.
Dave Shannon
(Spring Valley CA)
1988 240 DL 18X,XXX
1985 240 Ti 20X,XXX
1984 245 DL 20X,XXX
1984 245T 19X,XXX
'01 Jeep Wrangler Sahara 10K
http://www.homestead.com/volvo2/