Originally Posted by
velociabstract
My alternator died on the race track. My buddy followed me home with my battery in his car and his in mine. We had to switch batteries every 50 miles or so. (10 lb. racing batteries) The symptoms in the video were what I experienced on the drive home as the battery reached a voltage some electrical components couldn't function on. The first to go was the cooling fan, other random weirdness, every light on the dash flashing etc. but the engine kept running. My guess is the alternator. That's where I'd look first. These cars don't have wiring problems other than mice snacking on them. Or water leaks affecting certain interior components.
Les
Post of the day, right there.
And I'd do this: Plug in a voltmeter to the cigarette lighter socket, or wire up a voltmeter in some other way. WIth engine running, I bet the thing will read about 10.5 volts!
If the alternator is turning, system voltage should be at least 13.0 and revving to 2000 rpm damn well better give you no less than 14.0
Anything less, and the alternator is not doing it's job.