gengiant
New Member
Hi all,
Out on the lake this last weekend I found that my alternator didn't seem to be charging my batteries. The voltage indicated on the dash panel gage did not increase when starting and then reving the engine. At home I used a volt meter to check the voltage from the alternator's main distribution post (from which a heavy-gage cable runs to the batteries). I had the positive wire from the volt meter touching said post and the neg./ground wire to the engine block - nothing, ie. 0 volt. I did the same test on the end of the alternator cable to the battery just for kicks - of course, I got the same result. The cable connections are tight and relatively free of corrosion. :smt017 Is there anything else "simple" I should be checking before I take the boat in for repair?
I understand that an alternator replacement should, in theory be pretty simple. However, there is VERY little space between the back of the engine and the transom to get to the alternator. Additionally, the massive exhaust hose blocks direct access to the alternator. Has anyone done an alternator replacement on a configuration (boat and engine) like mine that could offer some hints as to what to do? I will grab the Chilton's Repair Manual tonight to see what it says about this...
Thanks!
Out on the lake this last weekend I found that my alternator didn't seem to be charging my batteries. The voltage indicated on the dash panel gage did not increase when starting and then reving the engine. At home I used a volt meter to check the voltage from the alternator's main distribution post (from which a heavy-gage cable runs to the batteries). I had the positive wire from the volt meter touching said post and the neg./ground wire to the engine block - nothing, ie. 0 volt. I did the same test on the end of the alternator cable to the battery just for kicks - of course, I got the same result. The cable connections are tight and relatively free of corrosion. :smt017 Is there anything else "simple" I should be checking before I take the boat in for repair?
I understand that an alternator replacement should, in theory be pretty simple. However, there is VERY little space between the back of the engine and the transom to get to the alternator. Additionally, the massive exhaust hose blocks direct access to the alternator. Has anyone done an alternator replacement on a configuration (boat and engine) like mine that could offer some hints as to what to do? I will grab the Chilton's Repair Manual tonight to see what it says about this...
Thanks!
