Oldsmobile/Buick Repair: 1985 Olds Cutlass, olds cutlass, butt splice

Question
Hi, I have a 1985 Olds Cutlass. This winter I am having the same problem with the car as i had last winter, replaced the alternator along with the cars battery and everything seemed fine, and had absolutely no problems during the warmner months. Now its doing the same thing as it had done the last time the weather turned cold. Ill come out in the morning and it wont start, the battery will be completely dead but will take a jump and run for about 40 mins or  until it is turned off. Do you have any idea what the problem could be since it is only doing this in the winter and since the battery and alternator arent that old.

Answer
Hi Walter,
Just a guess here, but I had an 86 Monte Carlo, basically the same car, and there is a wire harness connector just about under the back end of the alternator. Check that connection, and see if it looks like it has been real hot, and maybe melted together. If so, it is due to loose/corroded connections.
I needed to just cut my connector out of the system, and butt splice each of the wires together...fixed it right up.

All of the output from the alternator needs to go through that connection, and if it is bad, the battery won't get charged.

Van