1995 Cavalier 2.3 Quad 4 HO -90,5xxx miles
I put a new alternator on last January-2005- and I honestly havent driven the car much in the last year, untill recently. The past two months I have had it out more, like 4-5 times a week. But anyway, last friday I put another new alternator on (lifetime warranty free replacement from napa) and I think I have driven the car less than 10 times since. Last friday after putting the new one on, the little battery light was still flashing. It didnt stay on, but on the drive home it was flashing every once and a while. Last night I barely made it home cuz it died on me again. Did the same exact thing as last week when it died. I am trying to figure out why... this is all I can think of.
1.) I switched the pully that came on it with an underdrive pully. It weighs alot less but it is a little larger in size so that would mean less revolutions. I think I'm going to start by switching back to the one that came on it.
2.) I was in a hurry when I put it on last week with my buddy and I had him slip the belt on while I turned the automatic tensioner. I didnt really check to see how tight the belt was. Maybe the automatic tensioner is getting weak and not supplying enough pressure the keep the belt tight and give me juice? Maybe it is slipping on the crank cuz it is not tight enough?
3.) Or maybe the wiring is bad from the alt. to the battery. But if this was the case then I figure it would not have worked for the less then 10 times I drove it this past week.
What do you guys think? How would I Check the automatic tensioner? It did take some effort to pivot it to get the belt on. But I dont know if it is as strong as it should be. Let me know what ya think!!! THANKS