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Actually, 12 volts is a generic term. Your motor needs approx. 13.5 volts to engage the starter motor. Once the starter spins the flywheel fast enough to make the engine fire, the battery does not do anything else. Considering the alternator is working fine. The alternator runs all of the electrical components in and on your vehicle. In order to check if the alternator is working ok, crank the vehicle, making sure the parking brakes are set. After you crank the vehicle, you can remove either the positive or negative cable on the battery. If the vehicle dies, the alternator is bad and should be replaced asap. Be careful if you are doing this with a 90's or newer model vehicle. It's probably best to have it checked by someone.

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16y ago

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