0
Alternators
An alternator is an old term for electric generator that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy producing alternating current. Alternators are mainly used for recharging batteries and to power electrical loads of vehicles.
4,629 Questions
Does the alternator charge your battery when the car is idling?
Yes and no. Yes: The alternator will charge the battery any time the engine is running (even at idle) if the battery's voltage is below the threshold (usually around 12 volts) so that the voltage regulator triggers the alternator to generate power (around 14 volts) until the battery is charged up. No: If there is not enough consumption of power, the battery may be charged enough and the voltage regulator will not trigger power generation.
I have a more significant question, why are you replacing perfectly good parts?
Throwing random parts at a problem does not tell you what's wrong. You need to check individual subsystems to find out why your car isn't running.
It's always down to the basics, ignition, fuel and compression. If you have all three, and in the right sequence and intensity, the engine MUST run; there are no other options. So to find out why it's NOT running, find out which of the three isn't right.
That's where a mechanic becomes a bit of a diagnostician.
If you want a car to run you don't just open the hood and start replacing random parts.
Is it safe to run AC on an ungrounded outlet?
The unit will run but you may get shocked by touching it, now or sometime in the future.
How to replace alternator in 1993 Chevy G20?
Remove the belt from your 1993 Chevy G 20 alternator. Remove the alternator wiring harness. Remove the retaining bolts from the alternator. Reverse the process to install the new alternator.
How do you tell if the alternator needs replacing?
With the car or truck running disconnect only the positive side of the battery ... if it stays running that means the alternator is good if it dies then it needs replacing
How do you replace the alternator on a 96 Nissan pickup?
go to auto zone.com,enter vehicle info and look up alternator and click on repair guide to right of screen and it will show and tell you how.
Will a car start without the alternator hooked up?
It will start if the battery is fully charged. But you will soon (in less than an hour in most cases) end up with a dead battery requiring you to have the vehicle hauled to the garage anyways.
How do you replace the alternator on a Pontiac Transport?
The year, engine size and type are critical to being able to accurately answer your question. If you are mechanically inclined, I would suggest you purchase a relatively inexpensive repair manual and follow the steps outlined. I've been working on my own vehicles for over 40 years and I still purchase a Chilton's repair manual or equivalent before I start working on a different vehicle that I bought. A step by step guide is invaluable.
How do you replace the alternator on a 1997 Chevy Astro?
you have two bolts holding the alternator in the front.Unplug the wire harness and the undo the positive battery lead. Before you do this you must disconnect the positive battery cable.
To access the alternator from under the hood:
1. Detatch neg battery lead. (keeps the fan from operating!)
2. Unplug the 2 sensors from the air intake manifold.
3. Remove air intake manifold & short hose leading from it
4. Undo fasteners for fan shroud & remove it, being careful when working it free of the radiator hoses. A socket wrench with extension, knuckle, and 10mm socket will do the trick.
5. Now the alternator is (somewhat) accessible. Loosen the belt tensioner and undo the alternator bolts as in the above answer.
Where can you find the voltage regulator on a 1992 Old Toronado Trofeo?
i think the regulator is right in the alt.
How do you replace an alternator on a 1998 Ford Taurus 3 liter v6?
Removal
Disconnect the battery cable.
Remove the accessory drive belt from the generator pulley.
Remove the power steering line bracket and heater hose support bracket from the generator.
Remove the upper generator bolts.
Partially raise the vehicle on a hoist.
Remove the right front wheel.
Remove the lower fender splash shield retainers and position the shield out of the way.
Remove the generator splash shield.
Raise the vehicle.
Disconnect the electrical connector and remove the battery cable from the generator.
Position an adjustable stand to the subframe.
Remove the right subframe bolts.
Remove the lower generator bolts.
Lower the subframe to provide clearance.
Remove the generator.
Installation
Note: Do not tighten the lower bolt.
Install the generator and the lower bolt.
Raise the subframe and install the subframe bolts. Tighten the bolts to 90 Nm. ( 66 lb ft. ) .
Remove the adjustable stand.
Lower the vehicle.
Install the upper generator bolts and tighten them to 25 Nm. ( 18lb ft. ) .
Install the power steering link bracket and the heater hose support bracket. Tighten the nut to 20 Nm. ( 15 lb ft. ) .
Install the accessory drive belt.
Partially raise vehicle.
Tighten the lower generator bolt to 25 Nm. ( 18lb ft. ) .
Connect the generator electrical connector.
Install the battery positive B+ cable and nut. Tighten the cable nut to 10 Nm. ( 89 lb in. ) .
Install the generator splash shield.
Install the fender splash shield and the retainer.
Install the right front wheel.
Lower the vehicle.
Connect the negative battery cable.
Battery light usually means alternator not charging. Most common solutions would be be a bad alternator, bad connection, or loose alt belt.
Also check that the belt is routed correctly - I found a wrong way to route the belt and had similar symptoms.
See "Related Questions" below for routing diagram sources
You replaced the alternator the starter fuel pump battery and the car does nothing no sound?
What made you think any of those parts were bad? Or is this just a case where you were taking the "shotgun approach" to automotive repair? Many people seem to think that if you replace enough parts you'll eventually find the faulty part, but unfortunately that approach often leads to MORE problems. If a part wasn't installed properly it can introduce ANOTHER failure, making it even more difficult to diagnose the original problem.
Try this:
Climb under the vehicle and "jumper" the starter. If you don't know how to do that perhaps it would be good to get someone involved who can help. Basically it's just engaging the starter manually by running a jumper wire to the SMALL starter connection that engages the starter. If the starter engages when you do that, there is no problem with the starter and you can attempt to trace the problem back.
Next, find the neutral safety switch and test it. See if you're getting electrical current from the keyswitch TO the neutral safety switch when you try to engage the starter from the keyswitch.
When diagnosing automotive problems it's essential that you break up the problem into discrete steps during which you test individual components, and NEVER replace parts until you are absolutely certain that they are bad.
Battery light usually means alternator not charging. Most common solutions would be be a bad alternator, bad connection, or loose alt belt.
bad connection or starter solenoid
Is their an alternator fuse on your 1998 Ford Explorer?
In the Power Distribution Box in your engine compartment , which is " live " Ford recommends disconnecting your battery cables before servicing anything in the PD BOX - fuse # 14 is a 30 amp mini-fuse for the Generator / Voltage Regulator according to the owners manual
How do you increase output voltage of a alternator?
The voltage output is controlled by the voltage regulator. Check to see if you are getting a DC field voltage. On the voltage regulator there are terminals to different pieces of equipment on the machine. Look for the terminals that are designated F1 and F2. These should have a DC voltage on them. Also look for a potentiometer that controls the field voltage. Turn it one way and the voltage will go down and turned the other way the voltage will go up. Make sure that this potentiometer is in the correct position to allow voltage to the field coils.
it will take more electricity to run the alternator than the alternator can produce to drive the motor. the inefficiency is caused by waste heat, friction in the bearings and drive connection. it a law of thermodynamics that a closed system can't produce more energy than it consumes. the difference (how much electricity) depends on the overall design, and whether or not it exists in a weightless vacuum at near absolute zero temperature. Both conditions can increase efficiency. some other conditions might be whether the mechanism was designed by cavemen, or hypothetical CAD software that balances a thousand variables in a split second to maximize efficiency of the materials employed. if near 100% efficency is achieved, it would still be a useless machine because it could only run itself.
How do you replace the alternator on a 1991 Toyota Previa?
The Alternator is held by "two bolts" located at the top(12mm) and bottom (14mm). Remember to disconnect positive side of battery. First loosen 10mm nut that holds positive cable at back top of the alternator, then unplug wire harness on back. Second remove the 12mm bolt at top form the back. Third remove 14mm bolt at bottom form front. When you remove these bolts you should be able to loosen and pry out with a flat screw drive.
You replaced the alternator and the battery in your 1999 mercury sable and still not charging?
If you have replaced both of these components and it still is a no go - just start looking for things like corroded wires or perhaps a blown fuse. Somthing to do with the alternator. For some reason the juce from the alternator is not getting back to the battery. If you stop at an auto parts store get a Haynes or Chilton manual (they have wiring diagrams in the back) just sit down in a quiet place and study the diagrams......Good Luck.........Jeff
AnswerMany autoparts will do electrical testing for either a minimal price or even free. That should take the guesswork out of the problem, and likely even save money: replacing perfectly good parts doesn't help (done that more times than I care to admit!)How do you tighten alternator belt so that it does not screech 2.5 Dodge Spirit?
Your pulley system that controls the motion of the belt and the tighness will either consist of 4 or five pulleys, with the Alt, being of course at the top. the very bottom pulley that likey can only be reached from under th car, should be your compressor pulley, the one in the middle, between the alt. and the compressor, should be your water pump with its pulley. Using the process of elimination, you can find out that there will be a pulley left, this is the belt tensioner pulley. It has a bolt in the center of it, it may be either 5/8 or 15 mm. This can be fitted with a wrench, or if you are lucky, a ratchet, and then turned as if you were loosening it, you will see the alt , pull up and it will be tightened this way, you may also want to apply some belt dressing. if this doesn't help , the belt may be squealing for another reason, such as the water pumb may be getting ready to go out or the compressor pulley may be getting loose.
2004 jeep tj 4.0 what should alternator be putting out voltage?
13-15 volts, depends on what the computer wants.
How do you determine whether the alternator in a 2004 Chevy Tahoe Z71 is 105 amp or 145 amp?
If you look at it real close. You will see it stamped into the alternator.
