95 Amp Alternator Conversion Problem

[majicwrench]

The belt in the pic in your initial post sure looks good, but your written description of the belt sounds like trouble!!
Keith

[vandor]

Jefferson,

Sorry for the late reply, but I don't always have time to check here.
Sounds like you have tried a few things, but knowing the alternator voltage output would be important.
Maybe it would be easiest if you send the alternator back and we will have it
tested by our rebuilder? It is a new alternator, but one never knows, all sorts of things could
happen even with new products.

Thanks,

Csaba
Auto Ricambi
http://www.autoricambi.us

[radionovember]

Thanks so much, Csaba! I'll do that here within the next couple days. Cant wait to get this thing in and get some more power running through this Spider.

[radionovember]

Just a quick update:
In the end, it was a problem with the alternator but they're being good to me and sending me out another one today. I'll post again once i get this in and let you know that the problem was solved.

I have just run into a new problem and looking back over this post, i think "jimincalif" may have been on to something for me when he said:

This is exactly what happened with my wife's Nissan, the battery failed by essentially losing the series connection between two cells. Went to start it, no start, no nothing. Tested the voltage, 12.6v, tested the cells with a hydrometer, all good. But as soon as any load was applied, such as turning on the lights, the voltage dropped to zero. There was enough of a connection that the tiny amount of current needed to register on the voltmeter could pass, but no more. I jump-started the car and it ran fine, but as soon as any electrical accessory was turned on the car would die as the voltage would momentarily drop. I jumped it again and then turned on the lights while it was still jumped and no problem, the other car carried the momentary load. And I could then disconnect the jumper cables and it would keep running with the lights on because the regulator had already adjusted for their current draw. Once I had the problem figured out it was pretty interesting and I experimented quite a bit just to see how it all worked.

I have a burned out in-line fuse on the brown/white stripe wire under the fuse box. replaced it and it didnt do much (made my car unable to shut off till i took it out) so i'm not entire convinced that the previous owner didnt have some things in here re-wired. i'm assuming never shutting off the car is not a normal feature.

anyway, car wont start now, like a weak battery. measures 12.3 at the battery but when the parking lights go on, i hear the fuel pump get quieter... headlights, even quieter... turn the key, nothing. i'm going to try putting in a new battery, checking those connections and seeing if things get any better. Thank you guys for all your advice. i always hear people say how fiat owners are so fortunate cause they have a great community and i couldn't agree more.

[majicwrench]

A fully charged battery should read 12.6 volts at rest, so your battery is quite low. Charge it up.