Battery/ Alternater/ Regulator/Wiring?

[CAMRYGASS]

So I have a problem with one of these four things. Initially, when i would turn the key it would make a click and that was it. And I would have to click it 5 times before it would even start, sometimes more.

Well, that stopped around 5 months ago... and then i replaced 2 alternators in around 4 months. On this alternator i had the ?Ground? on top of the alternator... the screw started to corrode and it looks like what happens to metal that gets to much voltage. It has all this metal clippings magnetized to it.

http://img.wpac.com/live/thumb/F400010099BOS.JPG-- top left corner is what i'm refering to with the "ground".

So I replaced the screw with another because it didn't have a good connection to the screw. Now the screw started to corrode. And the battery light is starting to come on intermittenly. So my question is... What is causing this? I've replaced the alternator twice now. Does a new alternator come with a regulator? And can i replace this screw that is corroding?

The battery light comes on more frequently when the rpms on the vehicle are higher. I'm assuming all the vibrations are causing this. I've gotten my battery tested... But all the guy said was it sounds like an electrical problem.

If it is wiring, is this expensive if i do it myself? Or is something that needs to be done by a professional?

Thanks for the look, and advice. I appreciate all the help!

[azcat90]

Mine is doing the same thing (red battery light comes on and battery runs dead) and it seems to only happen when I'm out of town and my 93 XLE V6 is parked at the airport multiple days. Could it be moisture related? This car is usually in the dry garage at night when I'm home. Each time I disconnect the connector form the alternator with a 10mm socket and brush off the oxidation and then reconnect and it works again. I know the rubber shroud that covers the connector has holes in it that might be letting in moisture?

[Mister_Perkins]

Most of the time the regulator is the problem.

The top post is actually the feed wire for the battery. It pushes the voltage produced from the alternator to the battery to keep it charged.

To confirm the regulator is bad, use a multimeter and touch the (+) to the top terminal post. Then touch the (-) to the body at a good ground. See what the voltage is. If its low, the regulator is bad. If its high the regulator is bad. Feel the top wire while the car is running too, and see if the wire is getting hot.

Having the top post all corroded could actually cause it to not push voltage right too.

First, try to pull that top post off and clean the terminal up. Then check the voltage

[CAMRYGASS]

I actually just started to mess with the car yesterday. I took off the battery cables and all the alternator cables... I put on some battery terminal cleaner on everything... I cleaned it up and put some di-electric grease on everything. I'm not certain it fixed my problem since it really only happens is whenever i get it up to about 40-60mph+. My plug on the right side of it had a lot of corrosion on the female end. I would check that if i was you azcat. Not sure if that was my problem but i think we are having similiar problems. I will try this multimeter test as well.. Let me know if you have any changes.
My ground doesn't even have the rubber piece on top of it anymore. So i'm not sure it has anything to do with moisture.