After I have changed my battery recently, I want to watch how the battery is working, so I put a volt meter on the dash and connected it to the hot wire. I found something very strange. While I am driving the car, most time the voltmeter shows 14.0~14.3V, but randomly it shows just 12.3~12.7V. Everytime it could be lasting 1 to 5 minutes and then goes back to over 14V and it never happenes when I put the stick on parking. This let me remember once a machenic suggested me to change the alternator, and I did not do it because the battery charging was good.

Does anybody know if my alternator is working properly? Is a good alternator suppose to be always outputing 14V or more?

Thanks a lot!!!

 

I would take the alternator to auto zone so they can test it and double check all the connections. I know its not much help but try it

 

Sounds like the Alt is going bad.

 

is your battery light coming on? here's the deal...the "battery" light actually is an alternator conditioner light. it only comes on when alternator output is less than the actual battery voltage. this is why when the car is running and the alt is putting out around 14 volts and your battery is around 12 volts the light is not on...also why when your key is on and car is not running the battery light is on, cause your alt is producing less voltage than the battery. so if your battery light is off when the car is running, chances are your alt is fine. really it doesnt sound like you have a problem at all. hope this helps, sorry for the history lesson.

 

Thanks! Learnt a lot. The battery light is not on. If I want to take the alternator to mechanic shop for checking, should I remove it or just simply drive to the shop and let them check?

 

Did you not read anything he said?

Your alternator is fine.

But, if you insist something is wrong, go ahead and remove it, then drive it to a shop.

 

Honda ELD

It is normal

Why would you have to remove the alternator? Did you not know Autozone can check a battery or alternator with it still in the car? Miracle, I know.

 

I know my alternator is fine, I just want to know how to get it checked if in case. I live in Canada, no Autozone in our city. I have to take it to some machanics if it needs. Thank you anyway.

 

My sarcasm

Your head

Read more, since you struggle with doing so on this site.

 

Still mad you couldn't detect my sarcasm in the other thread? Get over it bud.

Can't believe you didn't know you could test and alt while it is in the car. Maybe you should learn a bit more before coming on HT and acting like you know everything when you don't. If you aren't going to help people and just provide false info, then don't bother replying.

 

Provide false info? LOL, I told him sarcastically to drive his car without it (note the emoticon at the end: that denotes how stunned I was about such a question.) Quit stalking me bro.

You act like this is my first time around the block kid, news flash I've been around and helping for the past 10 years. The idiocracy apparent in threads today baffle me, such as this one. Why he would think his alternator is bad in the first place, is beyond me. Find a new thread to attempt to be an *******, either that or YOU provide real technical information instead of finding threads that have no relevancy to anything tech related (for example: the other thread! oh my god!)

 

Right! I guess I forgot to tell you I have been on this site for 35 years!

You just keep coming back man! You are the "stalker" and I am sorry I hurt your feelings so much. Really! Hope your *** isn't to sore.

 

35 years eh? You don't say!

Oh ****, I forgot to log into my 2010 account. My bad.

Carry along sir. Also, quit stalking me. You're the one that keeps returning

 

You have TWO accounts on HT? Noooo way! This must be a first! How did you do that?!
What does that show? You've been on HT since 2001....woah! Amazing! I am sure everyone on here is simply wide-eyed with amazement!

Funny how you brought up the stalking yet continue to reply/post. Proof again you are not intelligent.

 

Brushes can intermittently lose contact as an alternator ages. Try tapping on the alternator with the vehicle running. If the voltage jumps around this may be a sign of worn brushes or possibly a bad connection at the alternator.