car not charging

[towncar95]

hey guys
been a long time since i been here.
well connie broke again. one nite going home the head lights seem not so brite, and the interior lights too. any way the next day im driving and the back light on the dash started not to work. then the dcl light started beeping. then the HVAC panel went nuts and locked up. also you could hear the the fan motor kick in and out.
then the car stopped. after waiting awhile it statred up and all back lights and air worked. then 10 min later the car died again.
well i had it taken to my uncles gas station. he said its not charging but so far they havent figured it out. i will let yo know the outcome of it. a few days before this started happening the dcl would act up ..... dont know if this is a factor in it or not.
well take care

[v8_dave]

Welcome back....you get tired of the essex yet and want to fix your TC? ;)

[towncar95]

no love the ESSEX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the towncar is next. love that baby tooo!!!

[MichiganTeddyBear]

sounds like your alt is going/gone...

and you have an 89, right??? I may have a replacement if needed. I would recommend a NEW volt reg for it too (they were seperate on the 88-90's I believe)... My replacement is the orginal to my parts car, but has only 44k on it.

BTW, I did just get my 91 (which is different, the 3G style) rebuilt here locally for less than a reman at the parts houses.. you might look at that route too.

the DCL wont be a factor in the charging problem.

make sure you check all the obvious things first, like wires and connections at batt and alt, and solenoid...

[towncar95]

HELP !! :)

i talked to my uncle today, he said he cant figure it out. he said he needs shcematcics. um so far what i know is that the alternator works , but its not charging back to the battery. anyway i have to call him at home tonite to find out more. hes going away so im going to see whats what and mabey my freind and i can fi x it. umm i have the shop manual , but i dont think it has all the electircal in it. just some.

i think i told you how it acted up right? well just in case here its goes again. car starts up fine and runs. but then the dcl starts up. then the back lighting of the dash gets dim and the display panel on the HVAC goes nuts and locks up. also if the air is running you it will click off and on and then thats when the dash lights go dim and the car stops running. but if you wait awhile it will start up and go but like 10 minutes later the same thing happens. the charging system light does not come on. the dcl lights up and beeps. this is weird. HELP thanks guys.

[MichiganTeddyBear]

sounds like you have a typical case of low voltage... try this for shiggles... pop the battery from the TC into the Essex and see if it does the same thing...

electrically, the output of the alt is directly connected to positive of the batt. Physically, it may be connected to the terminal on the starter solenoid on the wheel well that is connected to the batt.

Only other thing I can think of is a big current draw on the system after its running... I really think its alt/reg (replace em both at the same time), or a connection problem. of course the battery could be taking a puke too.

I have my 90 in the yard, so I can trace some wires for ya if needed. I cant start it, or even put a batt on it due to its state of dis-repair/dis-assembly.. HOWEVER, the underhood wireing is all intact I believe, I have just removed some modules.

[towncar95]

i put new alt in in jan and a new regulator too michigan. i gotta head out now but thanks for the advice. i let ya know more tonite when i talk to him more to see exactly whats up. wish me luck i miss my essex. later

[98TC-Cartier]

check for a corroded field terminal on the harness where it plugs into the top of the alt. Had one of those and it did to me what yours is doing. It is the terminal closest to the right fender, or the front of the alt. Also check the ground connection where the regulator is screwed to the inner fender. The regulator housing is grounded by the mounting screws.

[Steve Moran]

I am sure it is your regulator, remove it and have it tested at an auto Parts store.

[towncar95]

ok turns out to be the alternator. three of the diodes went bad. it was new/rebuilt in january. we took apart the alternator and you could see where the solder had melted. start to think why did it happen, and back several months ago the battery cables shorted and one caught fire. so kinda think that was the cause of the bad diodes. guess it was just working enough till the other diode went bad. thats why the charge light didnt come on. the regulator saw it was ok. thanks for all the advice. should have it up again sat.

[pro-five-oh]

yeah, it sounded like a bad alternator. Stupid remans. :(

This could be the way your car tells you to visit LoL more often. Welcome back to the Essex forum.

[towncar95]

also turned out to be a bad shorted regulator.
pro so many have told me to get rid of this car. I CANT !! ITS AN ESSEX! :)

[MichiganTeddyBear]

glad your keeping it.. I am SOOOO close to getting mine rolling again... in fact I now have a 'deadline' to meet! I MUST get all the parts off my parts car by the end of month, as thats when its scheduled to 'go away'. I still have left both front struts, left rear strut, VSS and its drive shaft, AS compressor/dryer, thinking of snatching interior door panels, and a few more trim parts from around the dash/column. the 90 dash trim dont quite fit the 91 around the column, and the 90's is in better shape. I think if I get the clamshell around the column from the 90 on the 91, it will fit right.

So, let this be known.. time is short on any parts anyone wants off the 90... its going away soon!