Hello all sifu.
Car: Viva auto 1.0
Problem: The alternator not providing enough charge under load and slowly killing the battery, but there is more to it.
Context:
About 8 months ago, I was recommended to upgrade the radiator fan of Axia put on my car (viva). He promised this will make air-cond cooler bla bla bla and I mean he wasn't wrong. Aircond more cool under hot sun and I like the sound of the fan now compared to the standard viva radiator fan. I can tell it draws more power and more air being blown. At the same time, I changed the alternator because the old one has started to overcharge and melt wires. So conclusion: Changed alternator + upgraded radiator fan Axia + New battery.
Fast forward 8 months later, my battery died. I charged it back using an external charger and then 1 month later die again. Today, I bought a new battery and multimeter to test the alternator output.On idle the figure is nice 14.2 -14.4 volt. Switch the headlamp it becomes 13.9, I think still okay. Then I open Air-cond (this will trigger my upgraded radiator fan to spin obviously) and the figure goes straight to 12.4volt. Then I tried air-cond On but switch off the headlamp and got 13.3 - 13.5 volt (which I assume still charging? albeit slowly right?)
Basically, the battery will be drained slowly if all equipment + lamp + Aircond ran at the same time.
What I want to know:
What do you think most probable cause? between the alternator or the upgraded radiator fan? The shop that did all this has gone bankrupt, so I need to go to a new place, so I just wanted to make sure I am saying the correct thing and equipped with proper knowledge before going to a new place. I know the absolute solution is just to change both, but If I can, I am willing to just change one of them since I think only one of them making the problem. So, do I first change the radiator fan back to standard? or change the alternator first? aduh pening kepala. I'm not sure if shop would want to entertain and experiment first 1 by 1 before finalizing the purchase though.
Second question: I really do like the upgraded radiator fan though. So let's say I want to keep that, does this mean I need to upgrade the Alternator to a bigger one or something?
Need some input from sifus. Thank you.
This post has been edited by pergilahsayang: Mar 19 2023, 04:46 PM
New Alternator low charge under load, Got complicated things...