Do I need new Alternator?

and0b · 08-01-2005, 05:44 PM

Today, from morning red light "Volts" is on. I checked battery voltage - 11.66V. I start engine and mesured voltage at alternator and it was 11.33V. Looks like it does not work! I just change it two years ago! Is it really alternator or can be something else?

paulson · 08-02-2005, 12:46 AM

is it making a whining or squeaking noise? That's what both my alternators have done when they went out...

At least now you know how to change your alternator since you've already done it (since it's such a pain in the butt!)

tblake · 08-02-2005, 01:39 AM

yeah, sounds like a bad alternator. You can take it in and have it bench tested at like autozone or somewhere, but your batt should put out 12.6 roughly not running, and should be around 14.4 when running. It should never be less while the car is running, that means all your accessories are using battery power and not alternator power. Get that alt changed before you get stranded. I ignored a volts light once because my 1990 lumina was running perfect, and ended up getting stranded on one of the coldest winter nights here. Not good.

robyrob · 08-02-2005, 08:56 AM

Definately get the alt checked, and if you just replaced it two years ago, you should probably be taking a closer look at all of your cables and connections - the effects of heat and corrosion on your cables and connections will make your alternator work a LOT harder to charge your battery and will dramatically shorten the life of it.

Dont forget to look at your body grounds too - they are an important part of the electrical system that often gets overlooked

tom3 · 08-02-2005, 10:59 AM

Usually the wire from the alternator to the battery has a fusible link section in it, look for a short section of different colored wire and pull on it to see if the inner wire is broken or burnt. Otherwise, probably a bad alternator, they are highly stressed on today's cars.

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