85 chevy caprice electrical problems? battery goes dead but alternator is good?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Roy P
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Roy P

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as i was driving my radio first cut out then the lights started to dim (dash & headlights) then they finally all cut out. the car seemed to be running fine though. when i stoped and turned it off i tried to restart it and the battery was dead. i had the alternator tested 4 times and it was good. the battery is a newer battery it a diehard. i dont know what else it could be i was for sure it was the alternator but i guess not does any body know what it could be i would appreciate some advice.
 
youve got a short somewhere thats draining the battery. also, is the tension on the alternator belt good enough? if its too loose it won't charge the battery, it shouldnt have more than 1/2 an inch up or down.
 
Have the voltage regulator checked. This happened to me although a different make model of car.
 
I had the same problem with a chevy cavalier...and it turned out to be a short in one of the wires between the battery and alternator....so i would try checking those...
 
Could be just a bad battery that won't hold a charge. Take it back to where you bought it and ask for an exchange, tell them about your alternator checks. Ask them to install it for you, you may not have grounded it properly when you put it in.
 
It could be a faulty connection. Especially in older cars, when you use many things (or even just a couple) the connection can get hot and break up. I would check the wiring first.
 
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