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1996 GMC Savana 2500

Question: how come my van won't charge, after replacing altornater and battery.

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Smoking gear monkey garage, 4.3L V6, Cincinnati, OH, December 11, 2012, 13:29

Rookie

My alternator was getting weak, but before i could change it, i went to go to work, and after starting and turning on head lights i saw alternator gage fall. put it back in garage and changed alternator and battery and now refuses to charge. checked all connections and seems to fine. HAD NEW ALTERNATOR TESTED BEFOR INSTALL, DUE TO THE FUN JOB OF WORKING ON A VAN. could it be something from the small wire clip and where do these wires run to and what for. THANKS FOR ANYONES HELP, Sinserly Rich

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Answer #1

Tomiko December 11, 2012, 15:59

Journeyman

maybe the wires are not connected good

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Smoking gear monkey garage, December 12, 2012, 06:00

Rookie

I checked them

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Answer #2

wetry December 11, 2012, 16:00

Master

Where did you get the replacment alternator? Is the battery new and fully charged? 12 volts @ big wire on back of alt.?
Who tested alt.? What is voltage at the battery with engine running?

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Smoking gear monkey garage, December 12, 2012, 06:02

Rookie

o'reily's , yes , yes , o'reily's , starts at 12 and goes down.

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Answer #3

goodguy December 11, 2012, 17:06

Master

I agree with wetry I would first check for power going to the alt

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Smoking gear monkey garage, December 12, 2012, 06:03

Rookie

thanks for your help.

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Answer #4

your.mechanic December 11, 2012, 18:41

Master

Do you have 12V going to the alternator when not running? no=wiring problem; yes=charging problem, maybe you missed a wire or your alternator is BAD!

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Smoking gear monkey garage, December 12, 2012, 06:05

Rookie

Going to pull it and get another one and try it. Thanks to all thats helping. This afternoon before tearing everything apart, I reconnected battery and hit the key, and beleive it or not it started charging!!!!!!!!!! I'm thinking it had something to do with the computer and with it not having voltage for a good period it started letting it charge. Any answers to that, cause I don't know. THANKS AGAIN

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wetry, December 13, 2012, 15:00

Master

Alt. brushes may have not been seated, now they are.

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Smoking gear monkey garage, December 14, 2012, 13:13

Rookie

never thoght of that , thanks

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wetry, December 14, 2012, 14:35

Master

See it from time to time on GM. It should be ok now.

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