So I have a chevy 350 small block and it was idling for around 5-10 minutes then it just dies then the oil light and "gen" light on the dash came on the engine had great oil pressure didn't drop at all, the engine did not overheat but when it died it almost sounds like the battery had died and clicks the starter so I was wondering could this be my alternator ? Not charging the system Sent from my SM-G920W8 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Charge your battery (If you don't have one, buy a charger $30 and up) After a charge, the battery should read 12.6 volts, use your multimeter to confirm. If it won't reach 12.6 your battery is suspect. (If you don't have a multimeter, buy one. $12 and up. Watch youtube videos to learn how to use it) If car starts test voltage on battery with multimeter with engine revving pretty good, it should read 14 or 15 volts , that would indicate your alternator is charging. If it doesn't read higher than the battery with the car off, your alternator is suspect. A car will run with a bad battery or alternator until there isn't enough current to fire the coil, then it dies. You also need to make sure your wires are not arcing, your coil is ok, your condenser and other items in the electrical system that could cause the car to stop running. Get a manual for your car on Ebay, or a SBC book at Pep Boys. If your battery and alternator are ok, and the car dies after 10 min, you need to look at the carb; choke, floats, adjusting everything correctly. Figure out what carb you have and watch youtube videos on how to adjust, or buy a book. You also need to make sure you are getting gas, and that your inline gas filter isn't clogged or that your gas tank's vent (or vent cap) is functioning properly. If after 10 minutes, with the air filter off, with your hand every once in a while pull the throttle and make sure you can see a jet of gasoline shooting down into the carb. If the jet decreases your fuel delivery system is suspect. It's always "fuel" or "fire" If you do these things you are well on your way to understanding how to troubleshoot car engines and you will be doing great, and having fun. It is anticlimactic to take your car to a mechanic when you can learn to do it yourself!
Yup, fuel or fire (spark). The only other two are air (don't be under water), and compression, which does not go away quickly without catastrophe. There is no better advice than what has been given in the previous post. And yeah, it could be the alternator, but it could be several other things, too. That is exactly why a multi-meter is an essential tool. I carry one almost everywhere I go.
Oh, and before some idiot tells you to disconnect the battery while the engine is running to see if the alternator is working, DON'T That is exactly how you destroy the diodes in an alternator.
If the alternator is working a big screwdriver blade will stick to the back center of the case. No magnetism, no output.
Very true. Plus if flatheads never die, what do you call all those cracked blocks? (And For the record, I love my flathead).
I have seen several of them run just fine with a cracked block, long enough for me to get it to the Magnaflux and find the cracks.
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