Your battery wouldn't charge on your 2005 pt cruiser the battery indicator did not come on but you replaced the battery with a new one and it seems to be running fine how do you know if your alternato?

Answer 1

Test it.

The way you test an alternator is to stop by your local Battery shop, or auto parts store. A high end carbon pile battery tester ($200-$1000) comes out of the back with a technician and they hook it up to your car or truck. Usually this is a free test, just call around and ask.

So what is this guy doing to my car/truck?

You will be asked to pop the hood to allow some connections to be made.

You will be asked to turn it on after the connections are made and rev it up and hold it.

The test takes 15 seconds once it starts.

While you are holding high RPM on the engine, the technician will test the abililty for the alternator to produce power, under it's ideal operating conditions. If it meets the numbers, it passes, if not, it should be replaced.

If you are in San Gabriel California

All Car Specialists can help you with this.

http://www.all-car.com

If you are in Denver, Colorado

http://www.bdbatteries.com

I think Autozone, Checker, Kragen, and Napa do it too, there has to be one near you.