Alternators

All of a vehicle's electicity using devices drain/discharge the battery, but during the time the engine is running, the alternaror is supposed to keep the battery recharged. If the engine IS running, but the alternator is NOT providing enough current to recharge the battery then ALL of the electricity using devices discharge the battery.

Some of the "onboard" computers draw some slight amount of power even when the ignition switch is off, but they do not use enough power by themselves to significantly discharge the vehicle battery.

Any electricity using device which SHOULD be turned off when the ignition is off, BUT... which due to some fault [such as a "stuck" relay for example] that keeps that device still turned on when the engine is not running and the key is off will also discharge the battery.

Or, just leaving the ignition switch on without the engine running, or the headlights or parking lights on, or sound equipment left on will contribute to discharge of a vehicle's battery.

Yes.

TAKE THE TENSION OFF BY SECUREING A WRENCH ON THE NIB AT TOP OF TENSIONER . THERE ARE TWO HOLES TO PUT A FINE SCREWDRIVER . THAT WILL HOLD IT IN PLACE WHILE YOU ARE WORKING ON IT

When the light is on it means the system is not charging. This is almost always the alternator. Can also be a loose alternator belt, loose wire, or break in the wiring. Drive the car to an Auto Parts store and have them check the charging system. You can also check the voltage output of the alternator with a multi-meter. At the battery posts with the engine running it should read between 13.5-15 volts.

Unplug the electrical connection and remove the two bolts holding it. Reverse order to install.

13.1v is about the lowest possible charging voltage.. 14.0 to 14.8 is better.

IF the fusible link has "fused" [opened up, melted apart] it will not keep the alternator from working, BUT it will prevent the battery from receiving the charge.

1999 Ford Windstar Van with AM/FM/Cassette deckFactory replacement info: In-dash stereo 9-19/32" depth; Size code E,F2,S Front speakers Front Door : 6x8" Far rear speakers Mid Panel : 6x8" SAME APPLIES TO 1998 FORD WINDSTAR EXCEPT FOR THE INDASH STEREO DEPTH SIZE

In my experience this usually does mean that the alternator is not sending the battery enough charge. Many auto parts stores will bench test your alternator for free, some can even test it while it is still on your car. I recommend getting it tested. They can also test your battery; you would be surprised how fast a battery can go bad. Sometimes you can get a battery that is just a lemon. I hope this is helpful.

Are you talking about the "idler pulley"? They are quite simple to change. Loosen the serpentine belt by using a socket on the center of the tensioner pulley, slide the belt off the idler pulley, use a socket to pull the center bolt of the idler pulley and replace the pulley with a new one.

A couple of more dead batteries and the battery won't be fine anymore. You have something draining the battery. Possibly a dome, glove box, under hood, trunk, or courtesy light on. Also make sure the brake lights are not staying on. Another possibility is a stuck power window switch, ar a rear window defroster staying on. You must find what is pulling power from the battery.

1.) disconnect the battery

2.) jack up the front driver's side and remove the tire (trust me, its worth it)

3.) pop the hood and remove the top 12mm bolt that secures the alternator to the bronze pivot bracket.

4.) remove the obvious big green plug from the passenger side of the alternator, then remove the small black rubber boot on top of the alternator, exposing the charging post. Remove the wire from the charging post, the securing nut is 10mm.

5.) Crawl under the car and remove the long bolt that secures the bottom of the alternator to the bottom bracket attached to the block. This can only been accessed/seen from the bottom of the car. Careful, you're about to get some dirt in your eyes. The alternator will probably fall straight down and crush everything in its path once this 2nd bolt is removed, so make sure everything you unplugged is tucked away somewhere safe.

6.) now that the loose alternator is stuck in the engine bay and you have tried everything short of prayer to get it out, prepare for bad news. The easiest way to get it out is actually from the bottom and you will need to partially remove the drivers' side axle and let it dangle. pry the axle out of the transmission, as this is easiest (i popped it out with a screwdriver, didn't even need a ball joint separator). You might need to play around with the steering wheel a little bit, but you need to get the axle's shaft completely out of the tranny and pull it aside in order to get enough room to drop the alternator through. I was "lucky" enough to be completely out of tranny fluid, but you will probably get wet here, as the axle acts as a seal for the tranny fluid.

7.) Now that the axle is has been moved aside, removing the alternator is still a little tricky. You'll have to pivot it around a bit in order to get it to fit through. When i finally maneuvered it through, the pully was faced almost directly down. In fact, the pully was the only part of the alternator i was actually touching as I pulled it out.

8.) while gravity is now working against you during the re-installation, it still seemed much easier than the removal. Remember to refill the tranny fluid. The process itself is very easy, but figuring out how to do it is hard. There are many great walkthroughs online if you search, and the entire process can be done in 5 min. You'll need a funnel, and about 3-4 feet of hose to attach to the funnel, as the fill hole is on the side, and your hose will have to bend into an "L" shape. Your battery will probably be dead, so give it a jump and you're good to go. VTEC POWER!

Remove the positive cable from your 1997 Buick LeSabre battery. Remove the alternator belt. Remove the alternator wiring harness. Remove the alternator retaining bolts. Reverse the process to install the new alternator.

good question

An alternator is effectively a small generator. Thus, what you know about generators will also apply to an alternator.

Generator windings are designed to carry specified amounts of current; and a generator is designed to output a given voltage (within a range). If we imagine a generator using field and stator windings that is spinning at less than nominal speed, you will see the terminal voltage begin to decrease. To hold terminal voltage up (thus keep current flowing at the same level at this reduced frequency), the field winding will need to be energized even more (ie, more current pushed through the winding acting as an electromagnet) to increase the mechanical power pulled from the rotating machine. This will overload the field winding at some point (highly dependent on the generator design), and terminal voltage will not be able to be kept at a nominal value without causing damage to the generator.

So the answer to your question is: yes and no. an alternator could provide "high"current into a very small resistance load, but not into a high resistance load (because the terminal voltage will be reduced). The more important thing here is the power your alternator will be able to provide will decay as the speed decays, due to a decaying terminal voltage.

This is one reason for using 60Hz over 50Hz, and 400Hz on ships - the lower the frequency, the bigger (physically) generators must be to generate equivalent amounts of power.

There are other factors that will come into play here as well, such as the reduced RPMs may also reduce the coolling of the alternator, effectively de-rating it.

Disconnect the cable from the alternator and see if that stops the draw. If it does, the alternator may be defective. Otherwise there may be something else drawing current.

I haven't done that particular model but all the rest have pretty much been the same. It should have a tensioner with a pulley on it bolted to the engine. The tensioner will have a square hole in it for a ratchet or breakover bar to fit in it. Some are 1/2" and some are 3/8". When you place the ratchet in the square hole and pull it, it will collapse the spring letting the tension release from the belt. Slip the belt off the pulley and ease the ratchet off.

yes you can just let the charger sit on the battery for a good ten to fifteen minutes and the car will run on battery power enough to get you a good 5 to ten miles

how do you install alternator on 2000 Ford diesel truck

You hear noises coming from the alternator. The dash light for charging stays on. If not equipped with light might be a guage, in which case you see it not charging.

Raise the hood and look for the drive belt. The drive belt powers the alternator.

It is defective. More than likely a diode it burnt out.