starfire

I host mine at Photobucket and link them here.

87oldscutty

Ok thanks

starfire

Most likely reason your reflector has a bulb in it is that someone replaced the reflector with a marker light from an '81-86 Cutlass. They had marker lights there:

cutlass_zpsc7bbd8d6.jpg

With the eurostyle front end in '87 - '88 the marker light was moved up to next to the headlight. You can just ignore that bulb (or just take it out).

starfire

Blue arrow points to where your marker light lamp should be. It should have two wires coming in from the harness ending in a rubber bulb holder. One of the wires is power, the other ground.

IMG_6977_zps7d7cf7e2.jpg

I replaced my burned out bulb this morning, that is what it should look like out of the socket.

IMG_6978_zpscaebd017.jpg

87oldscutty

This is the light I am talking about. I also tried to upload a video to youtube about the alternator. I checked it and it was putting out 12.6 to 12.7 volts to the battery.

starfire

No, there should be no outside screws and it should be amber in color. You will need to find one off of a parts car. Put a parts wanted ad on this site or look through the parts for sale area for someone parting a car.

Should look like this:

IMG_6983_zpsffeb4ca2.jpg

Looks like they cut your trim strips (mine are chrome 'cause it's a 442) to put the taller "light" in. That sucks too. I don't know if they are repopped. You may be able to get them from someone's parts car too.


Your alternator is not functioning properly. Should be putting out at least 13.7 volts. Take it off and take it into an auto parts store. They should be able to test it (and sell you a new one when it fails). Sorry.

MDchanic

That is the same light that Alan told you is not the sidemarker.

Stop messing with it.





That is too low. Houston, you have a problem.
This could be the cause of all of the things that you listed.

You need to find out why - bad connection or bad alternator.

Start by cleaning all of the connections, or, as Alan suggested, take the alternator to be tested..

- Eric

87oldscutty

when I start the car or take the negative terminal off the battery the alternator/belt is quiet but after I run it a few minutes (with battery terminal connected) it makes a squealing noise. I felt the belt and it feels tight but I wonder what the deal is there too. The guy I got it from said the alternator was new but there is NO way it is new lol

MDchanic

If your belt is slipping, that will reduce charging, too, but usually it's not an issue at idle, when the alternator isn't providing much resistance to rotation anyway.

- Eric

87oldscutty

so my belt could be the problem? I am working on getting a video on youtube so you can hear the noise. I really do appreciate all your help guys.

starfire

Is the belt tight when the engine is warm? The belt may be tight when cold, but loosen up after it gets warm.

I'd still take the alt in and get it tested. I've had bad one's right out of the box. They test them for free.

87oldscutty

I should have the video up and running soon. YouTube is being very slow tonight.

Tim Gilliam

I just fixed this exact same problem. I ended up taking a 4gauge stranded wire and putting a lug on one end and polting it to the block using an Exhaust manifold bolt, I then laced it over and attached it to the fender. Everything works like a champ now.

87oldscutty

this is the video I have been trying to get uploaded.

MDchanic

So,

1. You had to have a battery charger on it to get it to crank. Subtle sign of a problem.

2. Voltage too low, but I would be interested in knowing whether it goes up when you rev it to 1200 RPM.

3. What happened to make the squeal start the first time?

4. It looks like you got the same voltage from the (+) battery terminal and from the (+) alternator post - Is that correct?

5. Your belt is too loose and it's slipping. Tighten it, and let us know whether the voltage goes higher (and what it goes to).

6. When you disconnect the battery, the squealing stops, because the alternator is trying to charge that poor battery.
Give the battery a full charge, for Heaven's sake.

7. What voltage does the alternator make when the battery is disconnected?
This is not a valid or accepted test, but, since you are disconnecting the battery with the engine running anyway, why not see what the voltage is on the battery terminals (the wire ends, not the battery itself) when you do it?

Oh, and those front bumper sidemarkers are a total abomination.

Good luck.

- Eric

87oldscutty

I put it on a trickle charge while I was at work to make sure the battery was charged when I got home from work. I think the side marker lights are horrible too. The belt was squealing like that when I got the care. I am gonna pick up a new belt tomorrow. I think they are like $5 at the autoparts store so why not lol. I am going to put it on a charge tomorrow and not mess with it for a few hours. I will say that when I shut the car off the battery was holding a charge of 12.74 volts without any dropping off. I will check the alternator the way you say to as well.

87oldscutty

Its 3:00 am in Ohio and I just went out to check my alternator belt and I can grab the belt and squeeze it where it will almost touch itself. That tells me the belt is loose haha

starfire

7 hours prior to this you said the belt was tight

MDchanic

You can't believe everything you read on the internet.

Really.

- Eric

87oldscutty

Well I put a new belt on it that didn't solve anything with my alternator. I am still getting 12.5 to 12.7 volts. I thought the belt was loose. I guess my alternator is crapping outl

MDchanic

If what you said here is true:
Then the belt was loose.

- Eric