2006-06-08 10:10:40 · 11 answers · asked by pure_24kt 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Generally your battery will go dead, and if you drive, all of the lights and such will be dim. After a certain point your battery will go dead, and your car won't start.
If you can still drive it, take it to a parts shop, most of them will check it for free.
Good Luck!
2006-06-08 10:13:36 · answer #1 · answered by Evilest_Wendy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can run the leads from a volt meter to each battery terminal. Positive to positive and negative to negative. The meter should read a bit over 12volts. If not, then you need to recharge the battery. Once you charge the battery for at least 2 hours then Start the car, the readings on the digital meter should read at least 14 volts. Check to see that the alternator belt is still on the alternator and that there are no cracks in it, otherwise replace the belt too. If you are under 14 volts, try rev ving the engine a little, if it does not change , than you have a defective alternator. If you have a Ford, you may have a voltage regulator that is defective. trace the positive wire from the battery as far back as possible. If it attaches to a small plastic tower with wire terminals on it, you found the regulator. You can go to auo zone to verify the alternator and the regulator from there. They will take your old defect as a core.
Good Luck
2006-06-08 10:18:28 · answer #2 · answered by mailbox1024 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
an alternator is bad when the battery is not charging from it. if you have a voltage meter place the positive (red) pin on the wire that goes from you alternator to the battery. there is usually a wire diagram inside the hood that will help. the negative (black) pin needs to have a good ground somewhere. set the meter to measure volts. and turn on your engine. the meter will tell you how many volts are being sent from the alternator, it can also measure amps, and continuity. if you do not have access to a voltmeter you can go to and auto zone and they will help you in testing your alternator they have voltmeters and they also have a bench test machine that will test it. to use the machine you will have to remove the alternator though
2006-06-08 10:20:04 · answer #3 · answered by cwfraggle 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If its bad, you battery will eventually go flat. The simplest way to check is start the engine and if theres room, hold a screwdriver near the back bearing which is at the centre. If there is a magnetic pull to the screwdriver, then the alternator is working. Be carefull, please.
2006-06-08 12:40:46 · answer #4 · answered by webman 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it won't charge your battery. check resistance across the connection wires from the alternator to the battery and the alternator to the chassis, if resistance is less than 1 ohm then your alternator is probably shafted.
2006-06-08 10:16:03 · answer #5 · answered by paul t 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use a volt ohm meter to measure the output of the alt. It has to be above 12.6.volts and range to14.2 or so volts. A fully charged battery is over 12.6 volts and the alt needs more than that voltage to charge back up.. Good luck..
2006-06-08 10:18:50 · answer #6 · answered by Bruce D 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if it have a built in voltage regulator the voltage is not tell the alternator, charge it and check if the auto part store have a free charging system check
2006-06-15 05:56:10 · answer #7 · answered by ssanchez2002 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
start the car and leave it running, disconnect your battery cables. if the car dies the alternator is bad
2006-06-08 12:11:20 · answer #8 · answered by southernstranger2000 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One, you could disconnect the battery while the car is running.
Two- take it to any autoparts place and they will test it for you.
I prefer option 2.
2006-06-08 10:15:48 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check it with a voltmeter while the engine is running. Should be around 14.5 volts(dc)
2006-06-08 10:13:42 · answer #10 · answered by scrambledmolecues 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋