Astro van alternator not charging

[gillang]

It all started by the red battery icon going a little bit on then off. Then, the dome light did switch on itself on and there was no way to shut it off. That was a week ago. I only start it once a week. Today, it did start but again, the red battery icon went on and off and then, the windshield wiper got really slow and finally, the engine will die, come back on and die again. I understand that all the latest ptoblem were cause by an extremely low battery but...can this be other thing than a falty alternator ? Thanks.

[tungtide]

Pull the alternator have it tested at LAPS. Most likely the issue. Other will chime in soon. Good luck.

[markmitch]

Depending on the year of your van it could be a break in the circuit, on my 89 I had a break in a circuit for the volt gauge and it made my alternator not charge.

[gillang]

Mine is a 2002. How did you fix the break ?

[markmitch]

totally different systems but on mine on the back of the gauges there is a plastic sheet with wiring embedded on the back of my gauges not sure what the name of it is but I went to a salvage yard and got another one as mine was broken. They are extremely brittle so find another junky one to take apart to get an idea how to do it first. That is what I did.

[dcsleeper]

Mark, It's called a shunt for an ammeter.
But Gillang, you have a voltmeter. This fix isn't there on yours.

[gillang]

What did surprise me is...after it did start easily, I made 2 blocks then I let it idle for maybe 2. min. and then, 3 blocks away, when I did switch on the windshield wiper, they were extremely weak and 1 block further, the engine did start to switch on and off. How can the battery go from and easy start and fade so fast ???...sure the damn headlight were automatically on.

[dcsleeper]

Your battery is crap because you alternator is bad. and has been for a while.
I hope you don't continue to drive it when the oil light comes on.