Bad Alternator?

[jfk1232]

I recently put a new alternator on my Plymouth Laser. After it was put on, two different places (a mechanics shop and auto parts store) tested it and said it was bad and was only putting out around 12 volts when it should be 14 volts. They tested it while it was on the car.

I then took the alternator off the car so the alternator could be tested by itself. When I did this, an Autozone parts store said their computer said it was okay. It didn't give a voltage reading, though. The computer simply said something like "good". I then took it to an Oreilly's parts store who said it was bad with a voltage in the 12 range. I then took it to the place who sold it and they said it was good with a 14 voltage.

Does anyone know what's happening?

Also, even if the voltage is in the 12 range, would that hurt anything since the battery is also 12 volts? Maybe 12 volts is enough to recharge the battery.
Thanks

[curtis73]

In order to effectively charge, an alternator should put out between 13.5 and 14.4v. Its quite possible that even though its new, it isn't putting out enough juice.

[TheSilentChamber]

Like curtis said. Alot of this mass reman stuff is crap.

['97ventureowner]

Originally Posted by TheSilentChamber

Like curtis said. Alot of this mass reman stuff is crap.

I replaced the alternator on my father-in-law's pickup last year, and found it to be defective. We ended up going through 3 more in the next 2 days. We depleted the stock at the 3 Autozones in our area over that period of time. We got to the point of taking it out of the box at the store and testing it before we left. I'm thinking it might have been a problem with the production line when they were remanufactured. Probably a bad part was installed in all of them from the same batch. I've seen problems like this many years ago when I used to work the parts counter, but think the problems are fewer now, than 15 years ago, because of newer technology, and production methods.

[TheSilentChamber]

I allways take alternators and starters to a local place that rebuilds them, thats all they do and they've been in buisiness for over 40 years. All areas have places that do this sort of work, and they will usually last twice as long as ones you will get at most parts stores.