650cc Commando 2008 Battery charging

[bmoody4550]

Hello,

I have changed the battery , alternator and the regulator.

I have the red battery light on indicating it is not charging.

Is there something else that could be the problem to my battery not charging??

Thanks

Bill

[kenfain]

Check the actual output at the alternator. Check the ground. Check the resistance in the battery cables themselves. As well as how much power is actually making it to the battery.  Sometimes the cables go bad inside, becoming congested with corrosion. 

[EasternOregonSUV]

What we did when in a similar situation was the same as you ... we replaced all of those parts and still had the light coming on.  After checking all the connections with a load tester (battery testing unit),  my husband installed a volt meter and bypassed the light. He figured out that the sending unit on the light was defective. He said to start checking the system by removing the battery cable while the Joyner is running .... if it quits running, you know that you aren't getting juice from the alternator into the system.

[bmoody4550]

I didn't throw away the old regulator so I plugged that back in and got no battery light on the dash but also not charging the battery.

When i plugged the new regulator in I got the red light  but still not getting charged.  So I say that is working.

Cables have a the nice cable covering over them and would hate to take that off at this point.  I will check the continuity off the wires from the alternator.

I wonder if the old regulator toasted my new alternator?? May pull that off and take it in to Autozone to have them test it.

Thanks 

[EasternOregonSUV]

Definitely have the alternator checked. We have had one brand new alternator that was bad right out of the box within the last year.

[bmoody4550]

That is my easiest fix at that moment

Thanks

[kenfain]

Checking the continuity of the cables, only affirms there aren't any breaks in the wire. You need to test the resistance. That will test for the ability of the wire to carry the full current. Sometimes the cables can corrode internally without any visible on the outside. But its somewhat rare. Usually there's corrosion visible on the ends if that's the problem. So it's unlikely that there's a problem there. But it happens often enough that its worth checking.  

It seems unlikely that two alternators would be bad. But its possible. If it turns out to be bad.  I'd have the thing rebuilt rather than replace it. That gives you a chance to upgrade the alternator to a higher output.

[bmoody4550]

I think I got the alternator for less than $40 at NAPA. If it is shit I will bring it back to them. I think the guy will take care of me even though it has been 6 months.

 

[bmoody4550]

I finally got back to this and the alternator was fine, regulator fine and battery fine.

So Kenfain you were right about the cables.

But it wasn't the actual wires.

It was actually the connector were the pigtail comes off of the alternator was not making a good connection.

My home remedy of aluminum foil solved the problem.

Now I am looking for a replacement shifter and cables that don't break the bank.  

[kenfain]

Glad to hear it was a cheap easy fix. I hope the shifter, and cable turns out to be as easy.