jschunke Posted December 22, 2004 Report Share Posted December 22, 2004 It's a 94 Seville, Northstar. Been getting "No Battery Charge" message intermittently. Just replaced the battery, and it was charging at 14.6v (fine). Within 10 minutes I get "No Battery Charge". Does this sound like a bad alternator? Tanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike5514 Posted December 22, 2004 Report Share Posted December 22, 2004 Yes it could be the regulater inside the alternator. It is my understanding that the gm alternators are a demand type they only put out a voltage when required, 14.6 is within limits but my guess is the regulator is going to high and shutting down saying that I would check my connections and when the message comes on again check the voltage with a meter. If everything checks out and the battery loses its charge over time take the alternator to a test faculity and have them put it on a tester Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jschunke Posted December 22, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2004 There are two available alternators, with or without a heated windshield. Dumb, I know, but how does one know if a windshield is equipped with a heater? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jschunke Posted December 22, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2004 The manual says the A/C condenser has to be removed to replace the alternator. Say it ain't so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Baynes Posted December 22, 2004 Report Share Posted December 22, 2004 Yup...experienced the same message between Atlanta and Chicago last week...pulled into a Caddy dealer in Marion, Il - alternator O.K..starter O.k. battery O.K. bought an alternator, just in case, - it's in the trunk in case mine pukes.. - dealer cleaned terminals, cleaned corrosion on cable, and replaced battery nut (corroded)..all O.K now.. 93 STS with 206,000 - running strong with Mobil 1 ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jschunke Posted December 22, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2004 Replaced the alternator (what a royal pain and had to cut my 15mm wrench in half) and so far it's charging OK. My guess is the battery encountered a slow death and took the alternator with it. For now on I'm replacing the battery every 3-4 years no matter what. The pully on the NAPA alternator wobbled - no thanks. Then I got one at CarQuest. The pully was true, but the bearing made some noise when it spun. Whaddaya think? Would you have gotten it? Or it just doesn't matter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike5514 Posted December 23, 2004 Report Share Posted December 23, 2004 Are you shure the brg. is making noise because the slip rings inside the alternator could be what you are hearing. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jschunke Posted December 23, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2004 So some noise is acceptable? My concern is that the old alternator was silent when the pully was spun, as well as the bent one at NAPA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadillac_caddy_sts Posted December 23, 2004 Report Share Posted December 23, 2004 My mom drove a 95 ford Aerostar that did the exact same thing we bought a new battery and that even died we never did find out what was causing it though we junked the van before we bothered getting everything fixed on it. But you should get that checkd out right away. Defending Northstar perf a qtr mile at a time!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike5514 Posted December 23, 2004 Report Share Posted December 23, 2004 I would drive the car back to carquest and have them listen to it. They are the ones that will have to give you a new one if it fails. I would have to listen to it before I could tell, but you should not be able to hear it with the hood closed. Its hard to explain the slip ring sound, something like a muffled whiring, may be they replaced the brushes and they have to break in. A bad bearing would be a grinding or screeching sound on the car and a rough feel if turned by hand. I can only guess.Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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