Last Friday I had something happen on the way home from work...

As I was driving down the road, I noticed the battery gage had dropped down into the red. When I got to the light, my car cut off. I was able to start it again and at the next light, I put my foot on the brake, popped it into nuetral and gavre it gas to keep it running. While I did this, the battery gage went back to normal.

I cut through the mall parking lot over to the shop where my bro-in-law works so he could look at it. On the way, after I crossed over each speed bump, I'd have no power on take off. He checked the battery and the alternator and they were fine. He even took it for a spin and it was acting fine with him. Basically the car made me out to a be a liar when I was tring to explain what had happened.

I noticed one day this week that battery gage was moving quite a bit but it has since quit.

Anyone have any idea what it could be that's affecting that gage if the battery & alternator is fine?

 

check and clean battery terminals and cable ends,,, wire brush the heck outa them. check your grounds, one on the passenger side of the block to the front of the starterm, one under the passenger side motor mount, one or two on the front driver side block/head under the coil, on some there is anther on the pasenger side front of the motor sorta under the tensioner. there is also a power junction box on the passenger side fenderwell (small red plastic box) take those wires lose (will battery is unhooked) and wire brush them. do the same with the ground junction next to it.

 

Same problem happened again today. My car battery needles goes crazy and I had no power on take off. Battery terminals and all ok. After I got home, I left again and it seemed to be fine. Not sure at all.....

 

Check the heavy gauge wire that runs between the battery + terminal & the stud on the back of the alternator.

I just had a similar problem, and the wire, where it is crimped onto the lug, had partially broken & was hanging on by only a few strands of copper. It was hidden from view by the rubber boot that covers the terminal.

 

Sorry to bump an old thread, but it was my alternator. I had it replaced this week.

 

Bumping your own thread is perfectly legal!
Glad you got it fixed, and thanks for the update.

 

That's what I was going to say. My 3.4 was doing the same thing alt tested good too but was dead. Glad to hear its fixed.