Why is my brand new alternator not working?

The most obvious reason why your battery won’t charge when your alternator is brand-new is that the problem is with the battery itself. If you’re not 100% sure, you can use a multimeter, or a voltmeter, to check the current coming from your battery.

Why is my car not holding a charge?

The Causes of a Failed Charge When you drive the car, the battery isn’t getting recharged, i.e., there is a mechanical charging problem. There is a parasitic electrical drain on the battery, possibly caused by a bad alternator. The battery is simply old and it’s time for you to replace it.

What to do if your alternator won’t charge your battery?

Make sure you ground your multimeter, and put the power side to the stud that is coming out from the alternator (should be nut holding your wires that go to your battery). If your getting 13.5-14.5V there then the connection between the alternator, and battery is bad.

What should my alternator voltage be when I start the car?

The voltage reading should be between 12 and 13 volts. You can automatically assume there’s a battery problem when the reading is lower. In the event your battery’s good, start the vehicle and get the engine up to 2,000 RPM. This will put a lot more demand on the alternator.

What should I do if my alternator keeps dying?

The alternator is essentially a generator and it keeps your battery charged while supplying additional electrical power for the other systems in the vehicle. If you have a new alternator and your battery keeps dying on you, then there’s definitely a problem that you’re going to need to look into.

How can I tell if I have an alternator problem?

To differentiate an alternator problem from the battery, you will need to use a voltmeter to check for voltage. First, turn off the engine and check the battery voltage. A fully charged battery should have a reading of 12.65 volts. Next, turn on the engine and recheck the voltage. You should have a reading of 13.5 to 14.5 volts.

What happens when an alternator in a car goes bad?

If it’s still sending out a strong charge, the battery is likely not the problem. It’s important to note that once an alternator goes bad the electrical devices will attempt to draw power from the battery, which in turn could cause the battery to die more quickly. An alternator has a lot of moving parts that spin when it’s working correctly.

What’s the best way to replace an alternator?

That being said, most alternators follow these simple steps: Turn off your vehicle and disconnect the battery cables. Locate the alternator and the terminals on the back of it. Remove any terminal covers and then remove the bolts. Locate the tension pulley. Remove the alternator belt.

How does an alternator tester work on a car?

First, a battery tester will be used to confirm if the battery is still capable of holding a charge, or if it has dead cells and must be replaced. Once the battery has been either recharged or replaced, the output of the alternator is checked with a multimeter.