How do you know if your alternator is bad on your chrysler cirrus if your car will not start?

Answer 1

In general, if the alternator is bad, then the battery becomes discharged and does not have the energy to crank the engine. The starter could also be bad, possibly damaged by the high current resulting from cranking with low voltage. That's a "bad news - bad news" situation, as high crank current can also damage the battery. Check for plate buckling, often seen as expansion of the battery case." To isolate this, you need to charge the battery with an external charger. Starting from a fully charged battery, you will quickly see if there is a battery or starter problem, or a problem with the control circuitry. Then, with the engine running, you check the charging voltage and current. The voltage should be between 13.5V and 14.5V. If it is low, you need to consider alternator or regulator, or shorted cell in the battery. See below for charging current. It is also possible that the regulator circuit is At Fault, maybe caused by a blown fuse. If all looks good, you need to consider the age of the battery and its ability to hold a charge. It is also possible that a system load, such as a light being on, is draining the battery. Don't forget to check unexpected lights, such as glove box, trunk, and engine compartment. Some of these tests, charging and standby voltage, can be measured with an ordinary voltmeter, and battery charge state can be assessed by measuring the electrolyte's specific gravity. Other tests, such as crank and charge current, battery hold time, etc. are more involved and require specific equipment.