Professional Automotive Experts Answering Your Questions
Repair Topics /
Alternator
MORE: Alternator questions with
answers
Car Alternator System Questions and Answers - This category contains featured
questions as examples. They relate to most vehicles.
Question: 1998 Chevrolet 1500 Long Bed, 87,000 miles, Hello, I have a
problem with my truck it sounds like the transmission is going out. My friend said
had had the same problem and a alternator repaired the problem. Can this be so?
do alternators make this grumbling noise when going out?
Answer: Yes, we just had a Chevy truck come in for that same problem.
The easiest way to see if it is your alternator is to remove the drive belt them
start it for a moment, did the noise go away? if yes, replace alternator with high
quality rebuilt unit.
Question: 2001 Chrysler pt cruiser 2.4 non TC_mileage: 51,000. Bob
and Ken, my wife has a 2001 PT Cruiser and she loves it normally. She had been in
Korea for 18 months because I live and work here for the government as an FAA, A&P
mechanic. My cousin drove the car once a week to grocery shop and such while my
wife was here in Korea with me. The power steering pump started leaking at 41,000
and we had it replaced. My wife returned to the U.S. in March and about 2,000 miles
of driving the alternator went out. This car has a generator according to what I
could read on line. The generator was replaced along with the battery and the cable
harness assembly due to corrosion. About a month later the battery light came on
again. She took it to the dealer and they replaced the generator and did a couple
of diagnostic tests and said the computer has no faults listed. She insisted that
the computer needed to be replaced because she also had strange lights turning on
with no inputs from her, turn signals, fog lights, dash lights.
They of course said that the diagnostic tests showed nothing and that it would
be fine. Well, here we are about three weeks later and low and behold the battery
light comes on again. She has left the car at a different dealer now and I am very
curious to see what they said. They have already said that the diagnostic tests
showed no faults to include the battery light coming on, which the mechanic witnessed.
I have worked on helicopters for the last twenty years and also race go karts and
a highly modified BMW 2002 Ti. I am not a know it all, but from what I can see online
of the wiring diagram, the voltage regulator is inside the PCM (Chrysler term for
the computer). I would think this is the place to look, but it seems the dealer's
don't want to admit that it has a bad PCM. I am frustrated at the situation
because I am here in Korea and there is no family in the immediate area to help
her. I worry that she will break down in the middle of nowhere and so on. Thanks
for your input.
Answer: This is a classic example of what happens when a budget
alternator is installed. Make sure only top quality replacement parts are installed.
Sometimes these parts cost a little more but to avoid frustration it is worth it.
If the alternator that has been installed is a top quality unit, it is our opinion
that you have a main control module or PCM that is failing.
Question: 1997 Honda Accord with 70,000. We purchased a used Honda about
a year ago for my daughter. One meticulous previous owner with a little black book
with all records kept it in great condition. About 2 months ago, the battery light
went on and then her car went dead. We jumped it a few times and got it in for a
check. It was the alternator. I had it replaced. Less than a month later, the battery
light went on, and it was the alternator again. The parts distributor replaced and
even reimbursed 1/2 of the mechanic's fee.
They checked the battery, and it was fine when I had the service done and the
new alternator put in. Again today, the light went on. It has only been two weeks!
What in the world is happening? I am afraid to let her drive it. Other than that,
the only thing I have had replaced was the ignition switch in January. I am embarrassed
to go back to the parts distributor...they really have been great, but in the meantime
I'm wasting a ton of money on mechanic's fees.
Answer: Again, a classic example of what happens when a budget alternator
is installed. Make sure only top quality replacement parts are installed. Sometimes
these parts cost a little more but to avoid frustration it is worth it. If the alternator
was top quality, you wouldn't be having these inconveniences. We cant stress enough,
"cheap car parts aren't cheap!" stay away from auto parts like "Autozone, Napa,
etc. (lifetime warranties) you will be changing them the rest of your life. Opt
for parts ware houses that supply to the public, who give you OEM quality parts
and low prices.
Question: 1999 Mercury Grand Marquis mileage: 50,000. Refresh my
memory a bit; forgot how to check if my alternator itself is ok. Alternator
currently in vehicle was rebuilt and boosted to 100 amps instead of the normal 65-70-amp
type. Your response would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Answer: If the battery in your car is in good condition, you can check
the alternator by having the engine on. The voltage across the battery terminals
should be 13.5 to 14.5 volts. Double check to see that the alternator belt is tensioned
properly and in good condition.
Question: 1998 Dodge 2500 Ram Van mileage: 80,000. The alternator
was not charging - had new brushes put in. Since then, once in awhile the
alternator will go to full charge and the lights will get over bright. Some
say it is the voltage regulator but we cannot find it. It is not in the alternator
and it is not on the firewall some say it's built into the computer. It only
does it once in awhile but I'm afraid it is going to burn out my headlights when
it does it. Thank for your help.
Answer: If the alternator armature was not resurfaced at the time
of brush installation there is no way for the alternator brushes to mate squarely
to the connector ring. Therefore inhibiting the operation. Replace the alternator
with a top quality unit.
Question: 1998 Ford Ranger mileage: 49,000. A few weeks ago, my
charge light started coming on intermittently, and my battery has since died. The
alternator is putting out (the exact amps I do not know). I found this out
using some shade tree methods (removing cables while engine is running, feeling
magnetic pull on back of alternator). I have since replaced the battery, and
the charge light still comes on, however it stops glowing at idle with the headlamps
on. It will appear again upon acceleration. Any ideas?
Answer: 1. Do not ever remove battery cables form the vehicle while
running. The Computer system in the car uses a battery to act like a shock absorber
for the system, electrically. This can damage your computer component causing extreme
$$$. 2. Your charge light is on because the diodes inside the alternator are faulty.
Replace alternator with high quality rebuilt unit.
Question: 2002 Ford / F150 mileage: 55,000. I have a problem.
I think it is my alternator, but I am a little unsure. Periodically, my lights
dim and everything electrical will slow (ac, heater, etc.). After a short
period, they will return to normal. At first I thought it might be a short,
but it does not occur when I hit a bump nor does it go away on bumpy roads (once
it stopped while sitting still). The last time it happened, my truck stalled
when I stopped. It wouldn't restart. Then, about an hour later, it started
as if nothing was wrong. Any ideas? I'm lost.
Answer: Yes, it sounds like your alternator is short circuiting
internally. Replace alternator with high quality rebuilt unit.
Question: 1999 Ford Windstar mileage: 35,000. My Windstar runs on
just battery power. I have changed the alternator and checked all of the wires.
It will run for about 5 miles on a fully charged battery before the battery is completely
drained. Do you have any suggestions?
Answer: Yes, it sounds like your alternator is short circuited internally.
Replace alternator with high quality rebuilt unit.
Question: 2001 Ford Focus mileage: 120,000. The battery light suddenly
came on and with a volt meter reading on the battery showing 13.5V not running and
slowly drops to 12.3V when the engine is running. I believe the alternator
is not charging. However, before I buy a rebuilt alternator could it be something
else?
Answer: No, this drop in voltage is normal as the surface
voltage is depleted to the regular standing voltage of the car. You still need a
alternator though. Replace alternator with high quality rebuilt unit.
Question: 1998 Toyota Celica, 120,000 miles, Hi, I have a problem I hope
you can help. I drive my car almost every day so it doesn't sit around. At the end
of the day the charge light will flicker and then go out. Do you know what could
be the problem?
Answer: Yes, your alternator is getting ready to go out. Replace alternator
with high quality rebuilt unit.
MORE: Alternator questions with
answers
Repair Topics /
Alternator
Look up more alternator questions in our
Car Repair forum section.
Got Car Repair Questions?
We will answer it for FREE!
Related Subjects
GET ONLINE
CAR REPAIR MANUALS.
Get instant access to your vehicles drive belt routing, wiring diagrams, trouble
code information, updates and factory bulletins.
| 
