Check An Alternator

How to Check an Alternator
Not sure if your alternator is in tip top shape? Its hard to tell
whether or not an alternator works if you dont know what to
look for. The easiest way to test it is by using a voltmeter. If
youre well in tune with your car, there are a few other
methods you may try as well. Read on to learn more about
how to check an alternator to make sure its working properly.
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Using a Voltmeter
Buy a voltmeter. You can find one at any auto parts
store for less than $20.
[1]
Dont worry about getting an
expensive one; a cheap voltmeter will do for this
purpose.
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Page 1 of 12 How to Check an Alternator: 9 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow
6/16/2014 http://m.wikihow.com/Check-an-Alternator
If you have a multimeter, you can use that instead. A
multimeter measures voltage as well as other
electrical properties such as current and resistance.
You want to measure voltage when youre checking
your alternator.
Check the battery first. The battery is needed to start
the alternator, which, in turn, keeps the battery charged.
This means that if your battery is low, it will be unable to
get the alternator going, rendering any additional
voltmeter-testing totally useless. If the weather is cold
or your battery is old, your battery could be the issue
and your alternator might be just fine. Thats why you
need to check the battery before checking the
alternator.
[2]
Heres how to do it:
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Turn off the car. Youll want to make sure your engine
is off before attaching the voltmeter.
Open the hood.
Connect the voltmeter to the battery. Place the red
end of the voltmeter to the red battery terminal and the
black contact to the black terminal. Avoid touching
your skin to the battery.
Read the voltmeter. If the battery reads above 12.2
volts, it has enough juice to start the alternator, which
can then be tested with the voltmeter.
If the battery doesnt have enough juice, either get the
battery charged and re-test or try a different method
for checking the alternator.
Start the vehicle and rev the engine to 2,000 RPM.
This will draw power on your battery, which should
cause your regulator kick the alternator into high gear.
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Keep the engine running and retest the battery with
the voltmeter. When you read the voltmeter this time,
the voltage should go up to at least 13. If varying the
RPMs causes the voltage to fluctuate between 13 and
14.5 volts, your alternator is in good shape; if, on the
other hand, the voltage remains the same or decreases,
your alternator isnt working properly.
[3]
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Monitoring Your Alternator
Check the alternator gauge. If you have a volt/amp
gauge, it will read the alternator output for you. Turn on
the blower fan for the AC or Heater, the headlamps,
and any other accessories that put a strain on the
alternator, and watch the gauge to see if it decreases
voltage or amperage. As a rule, if the voltmeter is
higher when the engine is running than when the
engine is not, you can confidently assume that the
alternator is charging.
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Listen to the alternator while the engine is running.
If there is a problem with the bearings you may hear a
squealing sound coming from the front of the car, which
becomes louder with more electrical accessories using
power at the same time.
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Run the engine for a few minutes, turn it off, and
feel the alternator. If it is very hot, you may have wear
to the bearings or the insulation on the copper windings
may be breaking down an indication that the part may
fail soon.
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Turn the radio on and rev the engine. If the radio
whines or goes fuzzy whenever you hit the gas, the
alternator is quite likely the culprit.
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Find an auto-parts store that tests alternators for
free. Since every store would love for you to buy your
new alternator from them, many will try to get the edge-
up on their competitors by offering free testing.
Dismount your alternator and bring it in to be sure.
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Tips
Even if you conclude the alternator is not working, the
problem may originate elsewhere. You may have a blown
fuse, a bad relay, or a defective voltage regulator, for
example.
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167 Helpful? 47
When it is very cold outside, before you start your car, Turn
on your headlights for a min or two, and turn it off again. A
WARM battery Will Always start a cold car.
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Check An Alternator

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