What should the voltage read on an alternator?

What should the voltage read on an alternator?

The voltage should read a minimum of 13 volts. A good alternator should put out between **13.5-14.5 volts. Stress test the alternator – Place a load on the alternator by turning on the headlights, the radio and the air conditioning.

What alternator voltage is too high?

Higher than 15 volts indicates a fault in the charging system’s voltage regulator or related circuits. If it’s substantially excessive, this can cause electrical system and/or battery damage.

Why is my alternator putting out 15 volts?

What happens if an alternator puts out too much voltage?

Alternators that overcharge will typically produce excess voltage to the battery, making the battery case swell up, become very hot and lose its electrolyte through boiling. This surge disrupts the wiring in the alternator, causing an overcharging condition.

What happens if battery voltage is too high?

Voltage will become dangerously high. The battery can overcharge which will leave it useless. Engine components that aren’t designed to handle the pressure, temperature or power will be damaged. The alternator isn’t designed to handle excessive power and eventually it will burn out.

Why does my alternator have a low output?

Low output can be caused by extreme drops in temperature and rainy conditions, but this quickly fixes itself once the car heats up. If there is a real issue with the alternator, you may not know until you use several of your car’s electrical components all at once.

What to do if your alternator is not working?

If alternator can not output correct voltage, its not working properly. Get a new one. Check output as close to alternator as possible if you got high voltage then you got bad wire to battery. If voltage is about the same, new alternator.

What should the voltage be on a GM alternator?

Ideal Voltage Output Ideally, the GM alternator should be putting out anywhere between 13.5 and 14.5 volts. A voltage regulator helps regulate the voltage that an alternator provides. If the voltage dips below the optimal range, then the regulator kicks in to get the alternator to make more voltage.

What should the voltage be on a CR4 alternator?

You stated 11.4 volts. Based on that you must have an accurate voltmeter. Start as stated with the negative post of the battery. Put one end of the voltmeter on the negative post of the battery. Now put the other lead on the negative battery cable, right next to the negative post. Read the voltage. It should be 2 tenths of a volt or less.

What should I do if the alternator voltage output is too low?

What should I do if the alternator voltage output is too low? If the ribbed belt is in bad condition it will cause slipping of the alternator pulley. Since the alternator depends on the engine drive and the belt is the only thing that connects the alternator to the engine, slipping will cause the alternator to produce less electric energy.

What kind of power does an alternator use?

by Jay Motes. An automotive alternator generates electrical power to run the engine and charge the battery. An alternator that is putting out a reduced charge will eventually cause the engine to stall and not properly charge the battery, which can cause starting problems. An alternator should put out between 13.5 and 15 volts of power.

Why does my car have a bad alternator?

Many so-called alternator problems turn out to be nothing more than a bad connection at the alternator or a bad wiring harness. If you see a modern vehicle that measures the life or temperature of the battery, it is bad practice to use the positive and negative battery terminals to power aftermarket accessories.

When does the alternator light turn on the battery?

On older vehicles, the battery light would turn on the alternator light when the alternator output or battery voltage dropped below a preset value. The battery light on modern vehicles, however, is controlled by data and trouble codes. This is why a scan tool is essential to diagnosing a charging system.