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Check the voltage at your battery with the car running. You should have 13.5 to 15.5 volts. If you don't see this, your alternator is not charging. If that is the case, I would first check all my battery cables and connections for wear or corrosion, also your ground straps on the body and engine. If you check the voltage at the alternator and still see less than 13.5 volts, either your fan belt is too loose, dragging on something like a frozen AC compressor, or your new alternator has gone bad again. If all tests good, check for a bad accessory that is shorted or drawing way too much current. If your battery cables get way too hot, this may be the case.

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18y ago

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Related Questions

How long does it take to recharge battery with alternator?

Depends on how low the battery is but give it 10-15 minutes and it will be fully charged, assuming the alternator is working properly.


Can the alternator kill the battery?

Yes.Normally, the alternator charges the battery as you drive, and if if doesn't work, the battery never gets charged causing the battery to discharge. A discharged battery will have a short life, and is more likely to freeze in cold weather which ruins the battery completely. Note that an alternator should always be tested hot (within 5 minutes after driving for at least 45 minutes) . A bad alternator with a bad voltage regulator or rectifier diode may test good when cold.In some cases, an alternator may be "bad" because a rectifier diode (internal part like a check valve for electricity) no longer functions. With a bad diode, the alternator can, from time to time, actively discharge the battery when you shut the car off depending on the (effectively random) position at which it stops.


Why does it take about 45 minutes of running to drain battery after a new alternator has been installed on my 96 Geo Tracker?

Alternator not charging battery due to a bad fusable link?


How do you reset the ABS light after the alternator was installed?

disconnecting the battery for a few minutes usually does the trick.


How many miles are needed to charge car battery?

Car batteries get re-charged by the alternator. If your battery recently went dead, "miles" is not what is measured to recharge the battery, "time" is used. I'd leave the car running for 15-30 minutes. Driving for this amount of time too is fine. If the battery goes dead again, probably a bad battery or bad alternator, or sometimes a bad alternator makes the battery go bad and they both need repaired. (typically a new alternator is $120 - $200)


Is it the alternator if the car starts then after 10 hours the battery goes dead and does not start but after running for a few minutes starts again?

Most likely it will not be the alternator. It sounds as though the alternator is working very well. It will be a faulty battery or a battery drain due to something left on or shorted out. Usually a boot light or glovebox light or recently fitted stereo.


You thought your battery died you boosted your car for ten minutes started driving and your car slowly turned off in the middle of the street at a stop light What does this mean?

There is a good chance that your alternator has stopped working. It could also be just a loose wire from the alternator to the battery that is not letting the battery charge. Also it could be a bad battery. When a cell in a battery dies it will hold a charge for a short period of time but then rapidly die. Get the battery checked first. they the wires, then the alternator.


What is wrong when a battery will not hold charge when driving causing lose of lights and power?

If the battery is less than 4 or 5 years old. the most likely reason's are 1- The alternator not working at all. 2 - the belt to the alternator broke. 3 - cables at the battery are corroded. 4 - the battery can be almost completely dead. To check alternator. Get a jump from someone, if car starts, check the voltage at battery terminals. It should read approximately 15 volts. with all connections and belts OK. If it reads below, say 13 volts, then alternator or voltage regulator is no good. If it starts with a jump, and alternator reads OK ,then let engine run for about 15 minutes. stop engine and check voltage across terminals, it should be 12.5 volts. IF below 12.4 volts, replace battery, but first do a battery drain test. Disconnect negative battery terminal, with all accessories off, connect a test light to battery clamp and negative post, if light comes on, there is a short, discharging the battery.


How long can you drive a car with a fully charged battery but the alternator might be bad?

That will depend on the capacity of the battery and the amount of electrical loads. could be 15 minutes or a couple of hours.


What causes a car to lose power when less than 10 minutes after it's been jumped?

a bad alternator or battery or both


How long does alternator need to charge battery after jump?

Immediately disconnect cables but leave car running for at least fifteen minutes


Why does the battery light stays on for 3 or 4 minutes?

The "battery" light indicates a problem with your charging system... So either your alternator or regulator, Battery, ground connection or fuse, check the error codes too