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Make the sure belt has tension in it and it's turning the alternator pulley. When the car is started, remove one of the positive battery terminals (carefully of course and don't let it touch any other metal, wrap it in a rag). If the car continues to run, then the alternator and volt regulator are doing their job. The alternator's primary function is to recharge the battery after starting the car, then to run the vehicle's entire electrical system, which includes the ignition system. If the car dies after you remove the battery cable, then most likely the alternator is working. Go to Auto Zone, they'll check the entire system for you for nothing, otherwise give this a try.
The car may not remain running when a battery terminal is removed. An alternator uses coils instead of permanent magnets for their stator. In order for their to be a magnetic field in the stator, it requires some current to be passed through the coils (A generator uses permanent magnets, so it already has a magnetic field in it without needing any external current). This current comes from the battery and if the battery is removed, the alternator will not put out any current, ultimately causing the car to stall out. However, if the engine uses a generator, it would remain running. Consequently, an alternator will not charge a completely dead battery.
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What causes your alternator not to charge?
A bad belt, a bad regulator in the alternator or bad brushes in the alternator.
Is alternator belt different from timing belt?
Yes, I know of no engine where the alternator is driven by the cam belt. The alternator is driven by a drive belt or serpentine belt.
Why is Alternator making a winding noise?
Could be you have a bad belt or belt is loose.. Also it might be possible that the bushings are worn out of the alternator
What does it mean if your alternator belt has fluid on it?
A bad water pump.
How do you change the alternator belt on a VW Cabriolte?
Disconnect the battery. Loosen the alternator bolts and slide the alternator to loosen the belt. Remove any other belts in front of the bad belt if necessary to get to it. Remove the alternator belt, and install the new one. Pull the alternator to the side to tighten the new belt snug and hold while tightening the bolts. Reconnect the battery
Would a bad alternator make a car overheat?
No, not an alternator itself. A slipping belt driving the alternator and the water pump could though.
Can the bad alternator cause the water pump to good bad?
The alternator is belt driven and so is the water pump but that is where the correlation ends. There is no way a bad alternator could cause a water pump to go bad unless the alternator pulley was warped. Then there is a small chance.
What causes a car to squeal when the squealing does not start until you accelerate and then the sound speeds up as you drive faster and then it goes away after driving on the highway for 15 minutes?
A worn alternator belt, loose alternator belt or bad alternator belt tensioner.
Why is my car running in limp mode after replacing the alternator?
Maybe that alternator is bad or your belt could be lose cheak the puge is it the same alternator how your bat
Why isBattery light on?
There could be many reasons your battery is going bad or your belt is off or you have a bad alternator.
What could cause a 1999 Saturn SW2 to undercharge?
Weak alternator? Bad Voltage regulator? Alternator belt slipping?
What could be the problem when a 1981 Chevy Corvette does not charge?
Many possibilities. Check in theis order: Bad battery connections? Bad battery? Loose alternator belt? Bad alternator connections? Bad alternator? (Test at auto parts store.)
