is there anyway to check the alternator at home? i was driving and my battery light pop on. the care starts and all but dash lights are dim and cluster shut off about 10 mins after i turned on my headlights.
i know it is not the battery cuz i swapped it out for another.
is there anythign else it could be?

how can i check to see if the alternator works correctly?

 

is the alternator belt on?

 

does the battery light stay on after the engine starts?

dont remember the EXACT cause of that light staying on. But it has to do with a difference in voltage potentional in 2 circuits that cause it to stay on. If voltage is the same on both sides, no potentional they balance out, opening the circuit and the light goes out.

I want to say it has to do with the starter and battery, but i just dont remember i can look it up

 

also happened on my friends car when his alternator belt bursted

 

take a volt meter and put it on dc voltage. put the red lead on positive and black lead on negative. it should show anywhere from 13.7 to 14.2. if i am not mistaken though, the brake light would be on at the same time as the battery light if it is the alternator.