1987 Bmw Alternator

[yamahues1]

Help. I just changed to a new battery on my '87 325. Car starts without any problems, after a couple of minutes (5-10min), suddenly the car stops running. I measured the voltage of the battery and was about 12v, however measuring the voltage on the battery while the car was running, it was discharging. Could this be an alternator or some relay switch gone bad? Thanks for the help.

[nukeduster]

Originally posted by yamahues1@May 9 2005, 09:43 PM
Help. I just changed to a new battery on my '87 325. Car starts without any problems, after a couple of minutes (5-10min), suddenly the car stops running. I measured the voltage of the battery and was about 12v, however measuring the voltage on the battery while the car was running, it was discharging. Could this be an alternator or some relay switch gone bad? Thanks for the help.

[snapback]342794[/snapback]

define...discharging..? like there was a constant voltage drop? also... if your battery is 12v even, the battery is already basically dead.. it should read 12.75v at max charge... and around 13.5 when the alt is running properly.

where do you live? if you are in the states autozone will perform a alternator test free of charge.

i would suspect bad alt. or a grounded electrical connection somewhere. check the alt's electrical connectors and check for a bad connection/ground

[Kowalski]

Originally posted by nukeduster+May 10 2005, 08:46 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nukeduster @ May 10 2005, 08:46 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-yamahues1@May 9 2005, 09:43 PM
Help.* I just changed to a new battery on my '87 325.* Car starts without any problems, after a couple of minutes (5-10min), suddenly the car stops running.* I measured the voltage of the battery and was about 12v, however measuring the voltage on the battery while the car was running, it was discharging.* Could this be an alternator or some relay switch gone bad?* Thanks for the help.

[snapback]342794[/snapback]

define...discharging..? like there was a constant voltage drop? also... if your battery is 12v even, the battery is already basically dead.. it should read 12.75v at max charge... and around 13.5 when the alt is running properly.

where do you live? if you are in the states autozone will perform a alternator test free of charge.

i would suspect bad alt. or a grounded electrical connection somewhere. check the alt's electrical connectors and check for a bad connection/ground

[snapback]342900[/snapback]

[/b][/quote]

also could be slipping belt i have rigged it up so a gm alt will fit on my car and have the wiring sorted out, i can take picts its a 120 amp so its good for my sound system cause i went through 2 bmw ones and they hurt the pocket so i got this one and made it work even tho the mechanics told me it was impossible and then i drove up and rubbed it in their face i was happy cause it saved my 500$