Stuck in a blizzard, help needed.

[wvufan8353]

Ok guys, to the point here. In a blizzard right now and having some issues. I have went through three napa batteries in two years on my 1994 Turbo Legacy. The recent one is three weeks old. Sometimes when im driving my seatbelt alarm starts chiming and doesnt stop, even with both belts buckled, it still chimes. I go out thismorning to start the car, nothing. Dead battery. So i jump it from my gfs car, let it charge for ten mins or so, then take off to work a half mile away. By the time i get into the parking lot, all my interior lights are very dim and the abs light came on in the dash. I turned on the windshield wipers to try and clear some more snow, and boom the car died right there. Went to crank it back up and barely turned over and then nothing, just a click. Got it jumped again, let it charge with the cables still hooked up to the other vehicle. Checked the voltage with a meter, showed 13.5. Unhooked the cables, the motor raised in rpms slightly and checked the meter again, showed 12.45 volts. Drove it back home, ( all lights, heater, radio off) and pulled in the lot at my apt and shut it off. Then tried to start it back up, and it cranked over fast just like it should. What is going on?? Sorry if i rambled on, but i tried to detail everything as much as i could.

ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED.


1994 Subaru Turbo Legacy, Automatic, Aegean Blue Metallic.

[FundamentalyConfused]

Check your alternator

[Legacy777]

Welcome to the BBS.

Yeah, I would suggest having the alternator checked. It sounds like either the alternator may be bad or there is a short somewhere in the car. I would start with the alternator and go from there.

[wvufan8353]

Ok so i went out again, started up fine. I took it for a drive, but i noticed when i turned on the headlights and the heater the clock light on the radio got really dim, as did the gear indicator on the dash.
Measured the voltage between, the neg post and the engine block and the tranny case, and it showed no voltage.

I measured running voltage between neg a pos. posts again, with heater on and headlights on, showed 11.9. With heater and headlights off, showed 12.9 volts.

I did notice the negative battery cable clamp had been broken at the bottom, and had been jimmy rigged back together.

Before i go throwing parts, is there any other definitive test i can do to rule out either the cable and/or the alternator?

[alexandermf]

My friends neg cable was all cut and rigged too... We replaced the entire neg cable and no more funky interior lights/dying, seeing the cable being a couple bucks to replace I'd throw that on and see if it helps. I had similar problems in my impreza and it was my alternator going bad

[kimokalihi]

Take the alternator in to autozone and have them test it. It's very easy to remove. Then replace all your grounds with 4gauge car audio wire. Good quality cable that's flexible, has a lot of strands and make sure you make good crimps with good ring terminals on the ends.

[wvufan8353]

Its really strange how the Seatbelt alarm will constantly keep going off, no matter if the belts are fastened or not. Some days it doesnt do it, but no rhyme or reason to it. Should i try and swap the neg battery cable first? Im sure the parts store isnt going to have a custom fit one, so will the right length universal neg cable work ok?

[kimokalihi]

Yes replace your crappy old cables. Just unplug the seatbelt harness under the seats and see if it stops beeping.

[Legacy777]

Yeah, it sounds like you may have a ground issue. I'd start by replacing the ground cables and see if that helps. A universal one will work fine.

[wvufan8353]

Ok so today took the battery out and took it to NAPA to have them charge and check it. Left it for a while, showed back up and they said it was bad, wouldnt hold the charge. This batt was only a month old, bought it february 4th. They warrantied it, got the new one, along with a new 4 ga. negative cable. Installed the new cable and battery, cleaned all connections, tightened, etc.... Cranked and started just fine. voltage showed 12.3 with headlights, heater, and radio on. Showed 13.0 with everything off. I guess its time to swap the alternator? Should i drive to the parts store and have them check it before i swap? And do you have any preferences when it comes to which parts store to use for alternator? Thanks again for all the help.

[Legacy777]

Yeah I would suggest having them check the alternator. I also would suggest pulling the alternator to have them check vs. the on-car check. Sometimes the on-car check doesn't get the same results and may show the alternator ok, even though it's not.

As for preferences of parts stores.....most of the parts are pretty much the same. I'd suggest one with a lifetime warranty in case you get a bum one.

[kimokalihi]

If possible, I would get a junkyard one that's clean. Have them test it at the parts store. If its no good exchange for another one. Save money and you'll get a better quality unit than a rebuilt parts store probably chinese piece of crap.

[Legacy777]

Actually that's a very good idea, and yes, you'll probably end up with a better quality one. You could then send your old one off to be rebuilt/repaired and have it as a spare and/or turn around and sell it or the used one you got.

[kimokalihi]

Then again, in a blizzard I doubt you'd want to be in a junkyard but at least the alternator is extremely easy to remove.

[LegacyW90]

It would also help to make sure the belts are all properly tensioned cause a lose belt could cause you're alternator to fail.