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Briefly lost power steering and now low voltage.

Discussion in 'Electronics' started by Zaluss, Apr 26, 2012.

  1. Zaluss

    Zaluss Well-Known Member Donated!

    Last night I hit a puddle going about 35mph on the right side, immediately after I lost power steering for few seconds and the cabin dimmed. After that my voltage meter dropped to just above half at idle and only went to full with applied throttle. My car used to slightly dim when applying brakes, etc but now its awful.
     
  2. 4thgenceli

    4thgenceli Test Dummy

    Check your accessory belt. Sounds like it needs to be replaced or tightened.
     
  3. Zaluss

    Zaluss Well-Known Member Donated!

    I checked it immediately after I got to the store. It felt tight, no water...no idea what happened. I haven't started it today so I'll try and see what happens.
     
  4. 1fstgts

    1fstgts Well-Known Member Staff Member Administrator Moderator Donated!

    Hmm.. Check all the connections at the alternator. It also could have got hosed down and in turn shorted out some windings in it which would reduce its charging capacity.
     
  5. Zaluss

    Zaluss Well-Known Member Donated!

    Well I started it today and it ran fine with no issues. Volt meter worked fine no changes. I turned on my headlights, wipers, blasted the subs with no changes. I still get a slight flickering with the brakes but I always have. Last night I was dangerous close to the white zone of my volt meter. Driving this morning it barely twitches around 17-18.

    Although now I'm throwing codes again for Low EGR temp. I think this only happens when I have voltage issues.
     
  6. 1fstgts

    1fstgts Well-Known Member Staff Member Administrator Moderator Donated!

    That tells me then there was some water inside the alternator shorting out windings which would reduce its effectiveness. After it dried out, problem gone.
     
  7. Zaluss

    Zaluss Well-Known Member Donated!

    Strange because there was no signs of water in the engine bay when I popped the hood after I hit the puddle. I guess a small drop may have gotten into it. I wonder if there is a more effective splash cover for it.
     
  8. 1fstgts

    1fstgts Well-Known Member Staff Member Administrator Moderator Donated!

    How old is the alt? The copper windings have a coating on them, but after a number of years of being exposed to heat they tend to lose it. Hard to say though. One of those fluke things that happens... Just for the sake of argument, check all the connectors to the alt to make sure they are ok.
     
  9. Zaluss

    Zaluss Well-Known Member Donated!

    Connections are good. I just redid the positive wires because of that corroded section a month ago. Strange.
     
  10. Spiderman

    Spiderman Well-Known Member

    True.

    Also remember that alternators do alot of work to produce ALL the power for the car.

    If anyone here has not seen inside an alternator then you should pull one apart and familarize yourself with it.

    When I decided to pull one apart I was freaking out thinking that I might fuck something up but NO...... I could see that I had one blown diode (out of 3).



    I soon learned that it's not rocket science.
     
  11. Zaluss

    Zaluss Well-Known Member Donated!

    Well took it apart today and looked good. My CEL also went away on the highway today so I figure it was a by product of the dip in voltage.
     

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