Didnt know where to post this since its not diesel related but here I go...

I am completely confused with my DD 87 Nissan hardbody pickup, For the last week it has only been charging at 12 volts, and now 11 volts after just putting a new alternator in tonight, I also put in a new battery yesterday because I brought it down to Autozone and there machine said It was bad.

Just put in a new starter in the last 6 months, whats left? Ignition? The spring on the ignition is gone so I have to manually pull it back to on after starting it... maybe its still sending voltage through the circuit even though I dont realize it?

Any help would be appreciated, thanks ahead of time.

 

Car batteries don't really charge at 12 volts, they charge at 13-15 volts. If you don't see voltage spike up after starting the car, the alternator is not working.

The alternator needs to have voltage going to it to work; usually the ignition circuit sends a +12 volt to the alternator field coil, this is going to be a switchable smaller-diameter wire going into the alternator. Then it needs to have a good larger-diameter +12 volt wire that goes straight to the battery, and a good ground, which is also usually a larger-diameter wire.

I'd be willing to bet that the switchable +12 volt that comes into the alternator from the ignition is not getting there due to the screwy ignition.

 

Well I am not going to work tomorrow because of this so I will have some time to figure it out, I have read up on some other forums that I might need to put some extra grounds to the motor because the factory did not put any on some of the trucks..