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You can test it with a simple digital DC voltmeter. Set the voltage of the meter to the 20 Volt DC scale. Start the engine and let it idle. You should read 13.5 to 15.5 Volts at the battery posts. Any less than 13 or more than 16 volts and the alternator is suspect. Best to drive it to your local auto parts store where they will inspect the charging system for free.

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Q: What do you need to test your car's alternator?
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Can you take off the negative wire on battery to test the alternator?

Yes you can take negative off on all cars and test it if it dies alternator is bad if car keeps running then its good. In older (not computer controlled) cars you can, but on some newer (computer control) cars is not recommended. Some newer cars will turn off even if the alternator is working good. Use a volt meter to test the voltage. Connect it to the battery and it should read a little above 12 volts when its off and 13 to 14 volts when its turn on. If the voltage does not go up, then the alternator is not charging.


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The charging system on modern cars has 2 parts. The alternator and battery. On older cars there is also the voyage regulator. On modern cars it is built into the alternator. The electrical system however has many more parts.Alternator, voltage regulator, and alternator belt. The batteries themselves are part of the cranking system, not the charging system.


What would cause no output from an alternator on an 88 monty Carlo besides the alternator itself?

The positive cable between the alternator and the battery has an open circuit or break. There also is a set of wires that plug into the alternator that turns it on when the car is running. Wiring problems here can cause a alternator not to charge on the vehicle but works fine on a test stand. Some cars the alternator light in the dash causes the alternator to kick in when the engine is started. A burned out light in the dash causes the alternator not to charge.


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