Battery not charging (12V running, drops to 6-8V) new battery, new grounds, still draining.
Hey guys, need some help troubleshooting a charging issue that's been going on for a bit.
Stuff I noticed:
- Car runs at 11-12V instead of the normal 13.5-14.5V. this was the first thing I noticed
- Voltage slowly drops the longer it runs, down to critical 6-8V by end of day
- Won't stay running at all now unless connected to external power (jump/jump box)
- Starts fine while jumped, but dies shortly after disconnecting
What I've replaced:
- New battery (fresh)
- Grounds. negative battery grounds were badly corroded, replaced both (chassis + trans side) with new ring terminals. Didn't fix the issue.
- Alternator. I believe this is new/recently replaced, but I'm not 100% sure of its history yet (was given this car about a year ago. i think i replaced the starter though, not the alternator, idfk i dont rmbr lol)
My power steering hose has been leaking and PS fluid has gotten on some stuff nearby wondering if PS fluid contamination near/on the alternator could be causing it to not charge properly. Need to check this first before assuming.
I'm going to check my alternator's main output wire connection and small harness connector, belt tension/condition, and probably planning to get a free charging system test at AutoZone once I can get it running long enough to drive there
Has anyone dealt with PS fluid getting on their alternator and causing charging issues? Or any other ideas what else could cause 12V-running-dropping-to-critical, especially after ruling out grounds? Car is an 02 RSX Type S, K20A2. Appreciate any input, this one's been a headache.