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The way to test an alternator is to take it out and take it to a parts store, most will test it for free. If you want to test your alternator yourself you will need a volt meter. Start the car and have someone rev the motor to 2000 rpms and put your volt meter across the battery terminals ( pos to pos, neg to neg ). You should read 13.5 to 14 volts. If the reading is higher the voltage regulator is bad. If the reading is lower your alternator is not charging the battery sufficiently.
What else can I help you with?
The charge and brake light stay on all the time How can you fix this?
It is most likely a bad diode in the alternator that is causing both lights to stay on. Or its just your alternator going out, replace alternator, and check pads an rotors.
Can a bad alternator drain a good battery?
It doesn't actually drain the battery, but without a working alternator to recharge the battery it will only discharge as the car is operated.
Why do the electronics on your Saturn SL2 shut off and then immediately on when you are driving?
bad connection from the battery or alternator
Does an alternator smell when it goes bad?
Not really. It can make a grinding noise, and sometimes bad enough that the starter will not even turn the engine over. Most times they just quit with no noise.
Can an alternator short out for years And have problems for periods at a time for a matter of 3 years or so?
An alternator cannot "short" out for years or even minutes. The definition of a short is a wire or circuit touching ground to cause a fuse to blow. The circuit is too "short" for the current to flow through the proper load and back to the battery. The voltage regulator in a alternator can act up from time to time and cause improper charging from the alternator. Or a component of the alternator can go bad and cause a charging system problem intermittently. Your question needs to be explained better to give a better answer.
How do you know if an alternator is bad?
Check voltage with a voltmeter at the battery With engine running readings should be 13.8-14.2 With engine running hold a screw driver to the back of the alternator, if there is no magnetic field, the alternator is bad.
1996 Taurus battery charging light came on replaced the alternator and the problem seemed to disappear day later light back on battery not getting charged bad alternator?
you may have a bad battery or a bad voltage regulator
How do you know if 2004 dodge ram 1500 alternator is bad?
with vehicle running pull posative side battery terminal off if it quits alternator is bad
How do you tell if your alternator is bad in your 1996 dodge neon?
you could pull off your positive battery cable if it stalls out then you alternator is the problem
1984 dodge ram replaced alternator but it still dies when you pull the positive cable wire?
old myth, bad for alternator, dont do this..
What causes your alternator not to charge?
A bad belt, a bad regulator in the alternator or bad brushes in the alternator.
What would cause your battery to drain of all power in 96 Nissan Sentra?
When the alternator goes bad or goes out completely, the car's battery will be drained. I suggest you pull the alternator and have it tested. If the alternator is bad, you will most likely need a new battery as well. The cost is around $200.00.
Remove positive battery terminal and car dies?
Yes it does. The alternator will only produce voltage if it has a battery supply. The battery power is used to create a magnetic field in the alternator. Spinning the magnetic field induces an electric field in the stator windings. Then the alternator can produce power to recharge the battery and maintain the electrical supply to the engine and ancilliary circuits.Take away the battery, no electrics, engine dies. Plus, it can also cause an electrical spike that could damage the computer.
How to know if the alternator is gone in a 98 mercury mystique?
let the car run and then pull the negative battery cable off. if the car stalls, the alternator is bad! do you know where the bank 1 o2 sensor 2 is?
Why isn't your Mazda truck alternator not charging your battery?
bad alternator, bad voltage regulator, bad battery, bad connections.
How do you change the alternator belt on a VW Cabriolte?
Disconnect the battery. Loosen the alternator bolts and slide the alternator to loosen the belt. Remove any other belts in front of the bad belt if necessary to get to it. Remove the alternator belt, and install the new one. Pull the alternator to the side to tighten the new belt snug and hold while tightening the bolts. Reconnect the battery
Can the bad alternator cause the water pump to good bad?
The alternator is belt driven and so is the water pump but that is where the correlation ends. There is no way a bad alternator could cause a water pump to go bad unless the alternator pulley was warped. Then there is a small chance.
