Alternator question and brake question

[HotAirPrime85]

Ok, i read on the gnttype.org page that the little wire on the alternator should be getting about 8v or so when running. well i just put a new one on cause i think its the source of my problem and just as before, its getting like 14v.... where exactly does the little wire connect to?


and my brakes stopped working, i think its the pressure switch cause with the harness to it unplugged it is getting 13v but when you plug it in and check the same wire it is dead....any ideas?

 

[FJM568]

I think that the stuff about the alternators on www.gnttype.org are about the ones used on the 86/7 GN/TRs...Their alternators are a little different than the ones used on the 84/5s and have different wiring and plugs going to them...If you are getting 14v on the post on the back of your alternator, than it is working ok in that respect...

Make sure that you get the right amperage alternator if you buy one from the parts stores...The ones on the 84/5s were rated at like 94 amps...The standard alternator for the naturally aspirated 3.8L motors were only like 60 amps or something...

What are you having problems with on your charging system??? If you describe the problems, maybe we could tell you what is wrong without you having to buy all kinds of parts trying to fix something...

As for your brakes, I'm assuming you have the PowerMaster setup on your car...There should be troubleshooting schematics for the PM setup on the gnttype site to troubleshoot it...But real quick, what color is your pressure switch??? I think originally they were black, but the recall switch is gray, or is it vice versa??? It should say something about that on the gnttype site, too...If it's still the original switch, your local Buick dealer should replace it with the recall switch for free...They just need to check your VIN to see if it's been done before...heheh, only one recall switch per vehicle...

 

[HotAirPrime85]

my other problems ive tried posting before lol.....It runs when it is cold but when it gets warmed up, it just quits.....and wont restart....the tach and boost gauge (factory ones) just jump around like crazy, and ive also noticed now that not even the radio holds the memory after it dies....which i find wierd cause it means to me that whatever is making the car die is killing all the power.... I did the alternator test of having the car running, and taking the positive cable off the battery and the car would die....so we replaced the alternator today and thought it fixed it but dammed if it didnt get warmed up again and just quit.

as far as the brake pressure switch...the one on there is gray, i didnt see any mention of the color of the recall one on the site but ill go look around again. thanks.

if anyone can please help me, if i dont get this thing back on the road they are gonna sell or trade it for something i really dont want. case i love this car and its not easy to find an affordable one around here.

 

[FJM568]

If it dies when it gets warmed up, it may be the crankshaft sensor...I've had that happen to me...Start it at work, get on the highway and it stalls within about 4 miles from work...If you wait for about 5 or 10 mins for it to cool down, it'll start right up and drive another few miles...It's an intermittant heatsoak problem...A new crankshaft sensor fixed it on my car...

As for pulling the positive battery cable when the car is running...You should only pull the negative cable first and not the positive...Check your fusible links down by the starter...

The gray pressure switch should be the recall one...But I don't know a whole lot about the PowerMaster setup, my 85 GN has the HydroBoost setup... My 87 T has never run since I've owned it(bought it with a blown up motor) so I have no real experience with the PowerMaster...Try posting some questions in the general tech section and see if you can get some more help on it...