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This article was co-written by Jay Safford. Jay Safford is an automotive consultant and project manager. He is an Automotive Service Specialist (ASE), Association of Fleet Managers NAFA, Ford and L1 Certified. He has over 15 years of auto repair experience and served as an Automotive Instructor at Lincpn Institute of Technology in West Palm Beach, Florida.
There are 7 references cited in this article that you can see at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 6,236 times.
Can you assess the condition of the alternator in your vehicle? It’s hard to tell if a generator is working properly if you don’t know what to look for. The easiest way to check is to use a voltmeter. If you know your car well, there are several other methods that can be used. This test method will assess the overall condition of the generator and battery. Some newer vehicles may have a computer-controlled charging system and require additional testing.
Steps
Using a voltmeter
- If you have a multimeter you can use it. Multimeters can measure voltage and other electrical parameters such as amperage and resistance. You need to measure the voltage when you want to test the generator. [2] X Research Source
- Turn off the car. You must turn off the car engine before connecting the voltmeter. [4] X Research Sources
- Open the bonnet.
- Connect the voltmeter to the battery. Clip the red end of the voltmeter to the positive terminal of the battery, clamp the black end to the negative terminal. Avoid touching the battery with your hands.
- Read the reading on the voltmeter. If the voltmeter is just above 12.2V then the battery is strong enough to spin the generator, then you can check the generator with a voltmeter.
- If the battery does not have enough voltage, you must charge it and check it again, or use another method to test the generator.
- Repeat this process when turning on the lights, radio, and vehicle accessories. The generator is charging if the battery voltage remains above 13V with an engine speed of 2,000v/p and all accessories are running.
Monitor generator
Advice
- Even if you conclude that the generator is broken, the problem could still originate elsewhere. For example, a blown fuse, a damaged relay, a defective conductor or voltage regulator.
- When the weather is very cold, before starting the car, turn on the headlights for a minute or two, then turn them off. A warm battery will make starting the car easier.
Warning
- Some recommend testing the alternator by starting the car, loosening the negative battery lead and waiting to see if the engine shuts down. Don’t try this method; it can heat the regulator, generator and/or electrical components.
- Avoid touching moving parts with your hands, clothing, long hair, and jewelry when inspecting under the bonnet.
This article was co-written by Jay Safford. Jay Safford is an automotive consultant and project manager. He is an Automotive Service Specialist (ASE), Association of Fleet Managers NAFA, Ford and L1 Certified. He has over 15 years of auto repair experience and served as an Automotive Instructor at Lincpn Institute of Technology in West Palm Beach, Florida.
There are 7 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 6,236 times.
Can you assess the condition of the alternator in your vehicle? It’s hard to tell if a generator is working properly if you don’t know what to look for. The easiest way to check is to use a voltmeter. If you know your car well, there are several other methods that can be used. This test method will assess the overall condition of the generator and battery. Some newer vehicles may have a computer-controlled charging system and require additional testing.
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