I'll begin the search for a shop to take the Camaro to tomorrow. There's lots of shops around, just none that I trust a whole lot. I wonder if I should tell 'em that I'm on the 4th alternator or not and let them tell me "the alternators bad!" I'll ask about the DC test and go from there. Trying hard to get some positivity back in my thoughts and if nothing else, I've got all new cables already for when I can finally focus on the engine swap! The new heads should be here tomorrow!

 

If you have a shop that specializes in auto electric, they would be the best choice.

 

I did some searching and calling today. I called 3 different places and began to explain what I was hoping to have them help me with and I was right.... All 3 guys that I talked to had the Camaro fixed over the phone and pretty much said the same thing before ever laying eyes on it. One guy in particular was very entertaining, "You don't need it tested, you need a new alternator!" LOL Surprise, surprise, like I didn't know that was coming. I did get a number for a guy that has a shop in town and still works on a lot of older vehicles (guess he's a Mopar guy) but a friend at a parts store told me to that he's pretty knowledgable. Hopefully he's open on a Saturday.

 

You mean, we could have fixed your problem 8 pages ago by telling you to just get a new alternator, and left it at that?

 

Ohhh, right, an alternator, why didn't I think of that?

 

I guess it only works over the phone, not at our forum! We should have gotten your number and called you!

 

We could've saved at least a few pages as alternator #3 was tried back toward page 2 I believe... #4 wasn't until page 7.

When I was talking to these guys I made it so "out of the question specific" that it's NOT the alternator, only to hear "sounds like your alternator's bad." Maybe I make too many assumptions? If I was the "mechanic" at a shop and someone called me with an issue on an older car, I would immediately think that it's probably not an easy fix. I haven't met too many folks that own older/classic cars that would EVER want to take it in to be worked on by someone else. Nobody's open on Saturdays around here so think I'll start off on Monday with "I need help finding a short!"

 

I wanted to post an update. I do have an appt. on Tuesday next week to take the Camaro in to be tested for this problem. HOWEVER, I did a bit of clean up work today (per the other posts) and removed a few old wires from the bulkhead connector and pulled the cruise control wiring/module out. I'm completely stoked to report that after doing this, I started it up and the voltmeter stayed at 13.1 volts for about 3 seconds and quickly climbed to 14.6 VOLTS!!!! I was so completely shocked that I turned the car off thinking something was wrong with it, LOL. I went out and felt the pulley on the alternator and it was pretty hot. I went back and restarted the car and again, 14.6 volts. I let it run for a few minutes and tried all the accessories and the voltage stayed put. I retouched the alt. and it was only warm!

I'm not going to call this fixed yet and even though I'm still in a bit of shock with excitement, I hate not knowing what caused this to happen. Gain is good but is it truly fixed? We shall see...

 

Very good possibility that the short was in some or one of the wires you removed! I'll keep my fingers crossed!

 

Possibly something associated with your cruise was stuck on. Maybe to do with the button/switch on your turn signal stalk?