Help with overcharging

[wrestler3025]

Hey guys,

I did my B6 swap, and when I did it I installed a remanufactured alternator from a mazda 323. The festiva alternator is 50 amps and the 323 is 65 amps. I also relocated my battery to the trunk, and used #2 welding wire for my cable. I thought that the larger wire would compensate for any loss that I may of had. Well, it turns out that it was either the alternator or the cable, but my car overcharged my Optima battery. I already purchased some new cable (4 gauge) and an Odyssey battery for it, and fabbed up a battery tray with hold downs to relocate the battery to the engine bay. Is there a diode or something like a diode that I can also add to ensure that my new battery isn't overcharged?

Thanks
Joe

[Pu241]

Bigger gage wire is not going to overcharge your battery!

Have the alternator checked!
Just because it is re-manufactured is no guarantee the regulator isn't faulty.
Re-manufactured can mean so many things that do not bod well for the buyer.
Hopefully, you have some sort of warranty and thus recourse.

[packrat427]

It sounds like the regulator went wacko , and started letting it overcharge , A diode or diode trio will keep it from fully charging .

[wrestler3025]

Thanks for the responses Pu241 and packrat. Do you guys think I should keep the #2 wire and leave the battery location in the back? With the new Odyssey battery and my fabbed up box, it is going to take up little space back there:-) Any suggestions on what you guys think I should do with the materials that I now have? I've got 25ft of the #4 welding wire, and I will have the extra battery box. I just need to pick up another inline fuse if I plan on running the B3's battery to the rear, so that I can install a turbo in that. Wheeewwww. I just checked and I got the alternator from Advance auto parts. They have a Lifetime replacement warranty on the alternators. That is a big relief for me. I also want to throw a small turbo on the B6 in the future as well. I will probably do something similar to what smurf did with his B3. Anyway, let me know what you guys think I should do.

[wrestler3025]

Okay, I swapped out the alternator. I have to put the rest of the car back together thought to make sure that it's good.

[wrestler3025]

The alternator was the problem. I just drove to Milwaukee and back to Atlanta, and didn't have any problems with it.

[Pu241]

Glad to hear you got it worked out!
Often times we don't hear about when things get fixed!

[packrat427]

Yes , thanks for the feedback

[wrestler3025]

No problem:-) Glad you guys suggested the regulator. It was under warranty, so I just swapped it out and it didn't cost me a thing at Advance.