Troubleshooting alternators
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If it tests good off the car but does not work on the car it is time to check the wiring to the alternator. Alternators all work basically the same. Usually there is a wire to excite the alternator into working and a sense wire to tell the alternator what the voltage is currently in the system. To properly troubleshoot this you will need a wiring diagram for the vehicle that pertains to the alternator wiring. Most times these can be found on line for the common alternators. | If it tests good off the car but does not work on the car it is time to check the wiring to the alternator. Alternators all work basically the same. Usually there is a wire to excite the alternator into working and a sense wire to tell the alternator what the voltage is currently in the system. To properly troubleshoot this you will need a wiring diagram for the vehicle that pertains to the alternator wiring. Most times these can be found on line for the common alternators. | ||
| − | If you find that the voltage is not within spec, usually this will show up as 12 volts or less at the battery, you can purchase a rebuild kit for around 20 25 bucks that has most of the common failure parts included. Most are fairly easy to rebuild and at a fraction of the price to purchase a new or rebuilt. | + | If you find that the voltage is not within spec, usually this will show up as 12 volts or less at the battery, you can purchase a rebuild kit for around 20 to 25 bucks that has most of the common failure parts included. Most are fairly easy to rebuild and at a fraction of the price to purchase a new or rebuilt. |
A good source of information on the topic of alternators and automotive electrical systems is [http://www.madelectrical.com Mad Electrical] | A good source of information on the topic of alternators and automotive electrical systems is [http://www.madelectrical.com Mad Electrical] | ||
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