924Board.org

[kenchuk]

My 81 N/A keeps killing batteries, the car starts for the first while, but after a day or two it won't start unless I get a boost. Could this be my altenator or something else?

[Diesel]

Check the silly stuff first, like the glove cmpt. light. Make sure it goes out.

[924_fan]

1) Also check the condition of your battery. If it is on its last legs it may only be holding a surface charge.

2) And, check the output of your alternator using an accurate meter (not the voltmeter on the dash).

Skip

[jamez]

also be sure your battery terminals are clean, I had the same problem and I couldn't figure out what it was, the terminals looked fine but I cleaned them just in case, that was the problem...

[eturbo924]

Make sure that the alternator belt is not slipping. This one comes up a lot for 924 owners. Do this test. Check the tension. Is it tight? Then (car off of course) put your finger on the aluminum fan that is mounted on the alternator. Push it hard. If it moves independent of the belt.... you need a new belt. I believe some have used the 924 turbo belt with good sucess. The issue is that the normal 924 belt does not engage the standard pulley very well. You must have extreem tension on the belt... which can then wear out the alternator bearings. Anyway check that out. If that is not the issue I would put a volt meter across the battery when the car is running. Tell us what the reading is and we can then try and point you in the proper dirrection.

Eric

[kenchuk]

It's not something stupid like a light being left on, checked that. This is the 3rd battery to have this happen to it The really weird thing is that if the car sits for about 4+ hours it will usually start (Except this morning when I was about to go to work

[marky522]

Check all of your connections from the batt. to the starter to the alternator, i had to do this to my car because it wouldent start when it was hot. and i was killing batteries.

MArk

[larso]

Could be a short to ground. Do the terminals spark a lot when you put them on, if nothing is in use (ie lights are all off etc.)

If so it means something is shorting to ground...in my cases with cars it has been alternator diodes, and OXS unit in my old 931.

[eturbo924]

If the car runs the battery down and then dies, only to restart after sitting. This means a couple things. Either the voltage regulator is dead (thus running of the battery) or the alternator is not spinning at the correct speed (per my post above) or you have a break in a line some where in between the alternator and the battery.

Eric