HELP! Jump started my friend's van and now...

[telemark]

I first replaced my battery after doing a jump on a friend's van. (Stupidly, I had done it with both cables on my battery and not the negative grounded on the chasis, as I knew was better, yet tried that way after it didn't seem to be charging the van).
It seemed before and after the new battery was installed that the alternator worked- the lights would get brighter with higher rpm like they ought to normally.
Then, after about 300 miles, while driving, the lights get way dim and it decides to just die. My gf gives me a jump, three times to get home (the correct way), the last time we figured out that we had to charge it 30 min to get home that last 10 miles.

So, the battery is brand new Autolite from Kragen (it was free, under warranty). I am now wondering that this incorrect jump I performed last week has fried my alternator and/or voltage regulator (and why did it take so long to come about?). I am also wondering if there may be other possible causes or effects from this same issue- like if I replace the alternator will I expect to see more problems down the line with other electrical parts? Certainly this new battery is ok still, no? Could this be the fuse link?


Thanks in advance for any help!

[greg donovan]

you jumped the van?

if you did the proper procedure is to hook up to the positive and negative on the booster battery and positive to gound on the battery being boosted.

at least that is what is in the manual for my 90, 94, and 95 legacies.

if that isa the original alternator you are nearing the end of its life. it has served you well. replace it. i am replacing the one on my 95 next month after jumping the car too many times. even w/a optima red top in it. the alternator just doesnt charge good enough anymore.

[evolutionmovement]

Sounds like a dead alternator. You're charging the battery only enough to run the car for a few miles. Jumping a big engine may've done the old girl in - 210 is pretty damn good. I'd suggest getting the charging system tested, but try to go somwhere reasonably intelligent as I don't think a lot of those guys know how to run the machine right.

The dead car is supposed to have the negative grounded to the chassis (unless you have an old Jag or some other + ground POS). I wouldn't worry about not doing it right as we do it at the marina all the time to get boats going (kind of difficult to ground to a chassis in a fiberglass boat). I've seen many other people do it in cars without a problem, too. I think it's just a precaution to prevent battery explosion (it happens - I've seen it and it's scary), but if it didn't blow, I guess you're good. I'd just do it right from now on.

Steve

[vrg3]

Yeah, I'd also suspect your alternator.

The lights shouldn't really get brighter as engine speed goes up. At very very low engine speeds they might dim slightly, but a healthy alternator should be able to produce about 14 volts right off idle and hold it steady up to redline.

A dead or dying battery can often overtax an alternator. And especially if the alternator was on its way out anyway, it can kill it. Is it possible the battery you got from Kragen wasn't fully charged?