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YOUR RESEARCHDelayed charging
Leading reported evidence
Test battery and it seems healthy
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
Good thoughts but of course I've also tested my battery and it seems healthy.
Leading evidence: 'Test battery and it seems healthy' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check /' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Suggestion
You'll have a great opportunity to check next time you have to chase a vacuum leak at the bottom of the vacuum accumulator :-) .
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'02 996. Alternator does not start charging until ~4 seconds after the engine fired up. Warm or cold, SAI pump running or not. Makes no difference.
Once it starts charging, it stays at good level 13.5~14.1v whenever the engine is running. Drive belt is not slipping. No warning lights or CEL. No codes from Durametric.
I noticed this behavior on the voltmeter in the dash and also verified the same from the cigarette lighter.
I know that some Bosch alternators have a soft-start feature where charging will be delayed up to 14s (to reduce alternator load impact immediately after start up) but AFAIK, our stock alternators don't have such fancy feature. I wonder if the regulator was replaced with one having such feature. Other than that I can't explain it. Anyone experienced this?
Yup, that's what I'm thinking but I'm too lazy to remove the alternator to find out.
Very disconcerting when I see the voltmeter reading staying at 12v for 4s when the engine is running. Kinda like seeing the oil pressure at 0 bar when the engine is running
check/change the battery. If it's not holding a good charge or has damaged cells that could be the issue. If the act of starting is drawing it down too low the alternator will be busting its *** to bring the charge back up on the battery. While the battery is sucking up all the power, the voltage will drop and normalize at 12v (the battery).
First start video...Oh the one where you couldn't get the engine to stay running?
Yeah went back and watched the gauge...interesting. If it is consistent your guess may be right...soft start. I'm not familiar with that but it does make sense.
Good thoughts but of course I've also tested my battery and it seems healthy. I can do one check though. I can connect my booster pac and start the car and see if that makes a difference.
Lol...should have also got my left hand and key into the frame so ppl could see me cycling the key. The camera lens was not wide enough.
Yeah I'll just have to wait till next time I remove the alternator. Then I can check the regulator.
Ok, tested with booster pac and no difference. My battery is 700 CCA and my battery tester measured the same (a brand new battery usually measures 10% higher).
That was a good thought though.
Engine is pulling strong and it's very smooth. No leaks, no warning lights, no codes, and no issues other than this delayed charging. Fuel trims at 2~4%
Switched to DT40 at around 500 miles and it's at about 700 miles now. Plan to drop the oil pan at 2,500 miles, do some inspection and send the oil out for UOA.
DD'ing it now...hard to keep my foot off the gas pedal with the new found torque
The exciter circuit in the alternator might be going or the reference wire, in or outside of the alternator, is loose/broken. Pull the alternator, have it bench tested and then go from there.
I don't think it's a wiring problem because it's very consistent. My ground strap is great and the engine cranks strong cold or hot. I've been DD'ing the car so it's been driven and start/stop in many different conditions. The charging system works extremely well.
Anyways, it's not an issue so I'll just leave it at that for now. Will report back if I start to see other odd issues.
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