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Join Date: May 2002
Location: hewitt, NJ
Posts: 384
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charging
How do I check to see if the alt is charging the battery?
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74 LE "Bumblebee" 03 Jetta Wagon |
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01-22-2003, 06:01 PM
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Join Date: Nov 1998
Location: antioch, ca, usa
Posts: 1,082
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With car turned off, measure the voltage at the battery...turn car on and check again...higher voltage means the alt is charging.
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01-22-2003, 06:11 PM
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If I can expand on Mikes reply, touch the probes of your multimeter to the battery terminals first with the engine off to see what the voltage is. Touch the posts only not the battery cables. Then with the engine running. The meter should read around 13.5 volts with engine on. If not, alt is not charging. If voltage drops while engine is running, not a good sign for the alt. Hope that helps.
Don
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Don Kiepert '73 Big Bore '02 GTI 1.8T Race a Porsche - There's more to life than left turns! |
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01-22-2003, 06:35 PM
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Join Date: Dec 1969
Location: chula vista ca usa
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If the bulb is good in the alt light, it should be out when running and if it is flickering at speed then the charging system is getting weak. As was noted, make sure you touch the batt terminals, you can also then touch the clamps and see if there is a difference in voltage, should be about none. Good luck
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01-22-2003, 07:33 PM
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Frankly, I'd be very careful not to rely too much on the alternator dash light. It isn't the most reliable sorce of information on the charging system. It can flicker from a simple poor ground connection. If the light is on but your ignition is off, then your alternator has most likely failed. What symptoms are you having that makes you wonder if your alternator is charging properly? Maybe we can help sort this out for you.
Don
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Don Kiepert '73 Big Bore '02 GTI 1.8T Race a Porsche - There's more to life than left turns! |
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01-22-2003, 07:51 PM
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Location: Tacoma WA
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all the time or just when you are running lights+wipers+etc. first things first, check your alt belt tension.
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here? not so much i think. high five!!! |
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01-22-2003, 08:06 PM
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: hewitt, NJ
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I don't have any symptoms. Just got the car started after 5 years outside and seems that all major items (starter, MC, pistons, clutch, etc) have been frozen or not working. need to pull the engine this spring so wanted to check alt to see if I need to save my nickels to buy a new one while the engine is out.
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74 LE "Bumblebee" 03 Jetta Wagon |
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01-23-2003, 05:50 AM
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If you're dropping the engine at home, e-mail me and I'll point you to the article I wrote for our Milw. Region PCA newsletter on my one-man, SAFE, engine drop method. One guy, one jack, slow and easy. I've done it several times with no help - piece of cake.
Don uber914@charter.net
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Don Kiepert '73 Big Bore '02 GTI 1.8T Race a Porsche - There's more to life than left turns! |
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01-23-2003, 06:05 AM
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Location: Tacoma WA
Posts: 1,384
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easy enough, just remove the alt while the motor is out and have it checked out by a local electrical shop, or just have it rebushed/ rebuilt and you know you will not have to pull it when the motor is back in. if you have a friend with a floor jack, 2 of them makes it real easy.
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01-23-2003, 06:22 AM
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73' Porsche 914 1920 Mahle Big Bore
