Weird charging/electrical problem.
 

My car is plagued with some electrical problem. It keeps popping the alternator fuse, I would put a new fuse in and before the car can even idle the fuse would pop. So I went to 10A, nadda, 15A, naada finally the 20A held up. So I was w/e this sucks I'll figure it out. My brother and I (he's an electrical engineer so he knows car looms inside and out) went over the whole speed sensor, alternator and oxygen sensor loom and there are no visible shorts.
So tonight about 2 weeks after facking with the 20A fuse problem, the car's lights would dim when I applied the brakes. It was getting to a point where the lights would shut off extremely quick, hardly noticable. My dash dims as well.
To test how bad it was I turned everything on possible electrical and flashed the high beams and everything dimmed.
I can't determine if the alternator is beggining to fail and give me a warning sign or the battery is failing from age. I checked the ground on the battery and it's uber tight....

Any ideas? I have a feeling it's gonna strand me somewhere...I have quite the commute to school and work and I can't afford a tow truck back home. I'd like to fix this asap. i have a spare alternator but I don't want to pooch it as well cause the square plug type-r alternators are cash moneyyyy

Thanks for the help! appreciated!

it sounds like a voltage regulator problem I had, except in my car it didn't blow fuses... it would just randomly get really really bright, and then randomly get really really dim (and the battery light would come on)

dom I might have an alternator for you.

It's your alternator.. the stator is most likely shorted out

I have a spare alternator, I just want to confirm that the coil is pooched before I go and put in this one. On the other hand, next time you catch me on msn, let me know how much you want. I could always use another spare.

ur alt on ur car should be from a 99-00 sir becuase they use the harness for the el not of the itr harness......

The square plug was soldered in when the motor was dropped. It was converted to square plug...

i have an idea...
 

ok dom, i might not know much about cars but i know some stuff about elec motors, so I have an B]IDEA[/B].

ok the stator is a good place to look at, but IMO i think its the inside shaft. I think the bushings in the shaft are not making good contact because it might be slipping... and the only way is to rip open the altenator and look inside.

sorry if i wasnt much help and good luck


Regards

Thanks for the reply. THe problem has gone away. The car is running normally....Maybe it was to cold for the battery?
Either way, I'm gonna put in my spare alternator and get this one rebuilt...
Thanks guys!
-Dom