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Is there a way to determine whether it is your battery or alternator that needs to be fixed in a 2001 Bonneville?
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
If you can get your vehicle started you can then un hook the battery while it is running and if your vehicle stays running then your alternator is good. If it stalls and dies as soon as you unhook the battery then the alternator is not good.If you can get your vehicle started you can then un hook the battery while it is running and if your vehicle stays running then your alternator is good. If it stalls and dies as soon as you unhook the battery then the alternator is not good.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
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Is there a way to determine whether it is your battery or your alternator that needs to be fixed on a 98 4WD 3.1 L Olds Achieva?
Go to Auto Zone and have them both checked out for free.
How do you know whether its your battery or your alternator?
Start the engine and using a digital volt meter check the voltage at the battery with the engine running. If the alternator is good you will read from 13.5 to 15.5 volts DC.
How do you determine whether the alternator in a 2004 Chevy Tahoe Z71 is 105 amp or 145 amp?
If you look at it real close. You will see it stamped into the alternator.
How do you determine whether the battery is 6 volt or 12 volt?
Measure it with a voltmeter.
Will a bad battery ruin a new alternator?
Yes, it can. A completely dead battery can blow the alternator diodes, at least in older systems - I am not so certain about newer systems, whether or not they are protected against this annoyance. In any case, the alternator is not generally designed to charge a battery from scratch, but just to keep it charged during normal use. The alternator will not be completely ruined, but it will not function until the diodes are replaced.
Why would a 1995 Mazda mx3 not hold a charge is it the battery or the alternator its been sitting for 8 months I'm afraid of it being dead what should i do?
First; attempt to charge the battery fully. Use a known good charger and take the appropriate time needed to do so. Second; determine if the battery is good or bad. A load tester is generally a bad way to test whether a battery is good or bad. Try to find somebody who uses a Mid-Tronics Electronic Battery Tester. These have a 100% no fail rate. Third; if the battery is good be sure it is still fully charged. If it is not good, replace it. I recommend the most expensive "Interstate" battery that will fit in your car. Be sure to have clean cables and cable ends. Fourth; determine with the good battery installed whether there is a load drain on the electrical system. This will help determine whether it is the alternator or a different electrical problem. Repair as needed. Fifth; sit down and wipe your brow or pat yourself on the back. Sixth; go to a qualified automotive electrical shop?
Battery light on on 2003 Ford Expedition?
Your battery is not being charged because of a problem with the charging system Whether its a problem with the alternator / voltage regulator , the serpentine belt etc . you should have the charging system checked
Shut car off and most of the time the battery goes dead and have to boost the battery.But battery checks out as good?
Make sure the battery is checked out under a load. This will indicate whether the battery is capable of holding a charge.Second, suspect the alternator is not charging the battery.Third, suspect a short or a switch somewhere that is draining the battery.
How do you tell if there is a problem with your battery or alternator?
Almost all of us have experienced the problem where either your car battery or alternator just conks out, and you can't make out which one to replace. Its not easy finding out exactly which part of your car is giving you the trouble, but here are a few tips by which you can find out whether you have car battery problems or alternator problems. Check Your Battery First Start by checking your battery first. In cold weather, it's very common to have a dead battery that just won't start. Check the battery gauge on the dashboard to make out if the battery is sending a charge even when you have switched off the car. If there is a dim flickering light, then it means that something is using up power from the battery. You can then proceed to check the connections you commonly use, like the automatic window openers, windshield wipers and the brake lights. Switch them all off and try the battery again. Clean off any corrosion and check to see whether the battery will charge up again. Then check the battery voltage with a voltmeter. It should read close to 12.6 volts when the car is off. Then turn on the engine again and check the battery. If the voltmeter reads between 14-15 volts then the battery is normal. But if the battery reads over 15 volts or less than 13 volts, then there might be a problem with the voltage regulator, the wiring or the alternator. If the battery just wont keep a charge even when you have turned off all accessories, then it's time to take a look at the other systems that work with the battery to run your car. Check the Alternator Test the alternator to make sure that it can start up the battery. If the battery is working properly and nothing is wrong with it, then it's the alternator that will more likely cause a problem. A simple test to check the working of the alternator is by running your car; and then unplugging the positive connection of the battery. If the car stops, then you most likely have a problem with the alternator. Another simple test is to check your interior lights. An alternator charges your battery when the car is running. If the interior and dashboard lights come on brightly but slowly start to fade, then it indicates a problem whit the alternator. It demonstrates that the alternator cannot keep a charge when the car is running. Another sign is that the car lights run brightly when you race your car, but when you slow it down, the lights start to lose power.
Why does my battery keep dying and I had a new alternator in my BMW 740IL 2001?
Could be a bad belt, if you bought a rebuilt alternator then it may not be up to snuff, you might need to replace your battery, or you might have a parasitic drain in the vehicle's electronics somewhere which has nothing to do with the alternator. Without knowing the conditions under which it occurs, or why you had the alternator replaced in the first place (namely, whether you actually diagnosed it or just threw a part at it), it's a bit impossible to narrow it down.
Why does battery not charge with new alternator?
When alternator went out, it could have taken out a fuse if the alternator shorted. The main battery cable to the alternator is not fused, but in your panel you should find an ALT fuse. most alternators have two to three small wires that are in a pigtail that plug into the alternator. these small wires are fused. if your car can't pass current through an open fuse. then there is nothing to essentially tell the alternator to turn on. another thing to check, is whether the battery light comes on. if you turn the key to the forward position, without trying to strart the engine, your prestart lights should all light up. this is a system precheck before the engine starts. the battery light should come on at this point. if the light doesn't come on that is an indication of a fuse being blown. in a lot of vehicles, from the seventies to the late nineties, the charge light, or battery light has to work in order for the alternator to work. if the bulb in the dash(which is behind the battery light) burns out, your alternator will not receive power to turn on and work. again, newer vehicles do not have a light circuit that it relies on for the alternator to function. keep in mind, your battery light should have come on and been on the entire time the old alternator was in the vehicle. if it wasn't on, then this is something to pursue further.
What charges the car battery in your car?
Actually the charging mechanism in an automobile is the alternator, and it works whether the wheels are moving or not. The alternator is one of the parts in the engine compartment that have a drive belt. These are the belts that turn the cooling fan for most cars, and for that reason the belts are commonly known as "fan belts". Most new cars have what is known as a serpentine fan belt, that turns more than one part of the car, the alternator being one of the parts being turned. While the engine is running the alternator is putting out a charge that continually charges the coil and other ignition systems along with the cars battery. When the alternator fails the car will run until the battery is drained of it's charge, and that is when you have a dead battery usually.
