914-6 alternator problem

[sixbanger]

I just checked the battery and it is only charging a little under 12 volts.Does it need to come out to fix or is there another test for in the car.
THX
RT

[Brad Roberts]

Did you test it with the RPM'S around 1800 or so ??

with everything turned on in the car:

Lights, highbeams... fog lights... stereo... 4 way flashers...

Alternator's dont charge the battery until it needs too. All it does is "maintain" until it sees a load (or the voltage regulator sees the load)

B

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

And just to verify--you checked at the battery posts, right? Not the wires, not the clamps that hold the wires onto the battery, but the battery posts themselves?

Check Jim Thorusen's Alternator troubleshooting article and go through it. Make sure that the alternator is actually the problem; it could be something as simple as an unplugged wire or a bad ground connection.

--DD