Charging system

[Cobra]

ok i'm lost my battery warning light came on so i checked my alternator it appears to be fine tried a new alt still not charging my battery i cleaned the ground post in front of the battery i can see the ground post of the front of the block looks like it's compltly covered in oil and grim but really hard to reach haven't touched it yet connections are the starter have all been cleaned when i installed the new starter. doesn't appear to be a short the battery is hold it's charge. i'm so lost i'm almost ready to drive to canadian tire i've been fight with this thing all yesterday and help is greatly appreiciated.

PS. i know it's going to be something stupid that i should have thought of but i'm outta ideas right now. i'm going back out to cleand the front engine ground just to rule it out plus it can't hurt..... too much

[LiftedAWDAstro]

Put the battery charge wire back on the correct post on the starter. Make sure the wire has good connection and isn't broke.

[Cobra]

the wires are on the right posts if the wire itself is damaged will it still start? oh and the problme was intermittent before the starter died

edit: ok i cleand the front engine ground still not charging bat tho, also my battery light isn't on any more....? turned it off and put key in run normally the light would come one but it didn't what did i do now....

[LiftedAWDAstro]

If the wire from the alternator to the starter is damaged, the engine will still start fine as long as the battery is charged.

[Rebel]

i can see the ground post of the front of the block looks like it's compltly covered in oil and grim but really hard to reach haven't touched it

Not saying this is it but had the same issue several years ago. Checked everything over and over again. I looked many times at the block ground cable which on my 350 is bolted to front of block. A little dirty but looked good. Finally one day I reached down to tighten the bolt which was very tight then I pulled on the cable, the connector had broken in two pieces around the bolt but stayed in place just not enough ground at times to crank but other times it would crank right up.
Hope this is the solution and you're up and running.

[Cobra]

i'm betting it is one of those cables. going to get my old alt bench tested to see if it's good or not to help rule things out never know the alt i got could be a defect for all i know. i might as well do the big 3 upgrade since i'm playing with all the wires anyway huh?
oh according to the helms book i need a new instrument cluster becuase the battery light won't come on... and i some how shorted the warning lights fuse had to replace it everything is seems to work fine except the battery light now. i wanna change my dash to a custom full digital but after looking at that printed circuit board today i realized just how much work it'll take.....

edit:i just ran a fairly heavy gauge wire to jumper from alt post to starter still same result not charging haven't gotten old alt tested yet

[Cobra]

ok.... i seem to be missing something i got both of my batteries tested and both of my alts too and all check out fine (sadly.....) is the a stupid fuse or something i'm missing or a fusable link in there that's hard to see i wanna tear into it now but it's too hot (just got home from work)

thanks in advance
Cobra

[dunedog]

it's too hot (just got home from work)

thanks in advance
Cobra

Too hot ?...you live in Canada for cripes sake!
aahh that's right ,...it may be a little toasty with that propane fire burnin'

[Cobra]

lol i was referring to the engine bay since i had to drive home from work if anythign it was chilly out had my sweater and hood on

[Cobra]

Finally got it fixed after all the pesting and crap and a brand new defective alternator the main problem was a loss post on the alternator after my mechanic took everything apart tested the wiring when he went to take a look at the alternator again the stud feel out on the table..... i knew it was going to be something stupid but that was a bit too much

[astrozam]

Good to know,thanks for the update Cobra

[dunedog]

Damn that stud......