DIDN'T MEAN TO JUMP IN BETWEEN YOU AND "SAT", IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO HUNT AND PECK AND SEARCH FOR MY OLD ANSWERS BEFORE I SUBMITTED
BACK IN '74 AND ON BACK, SNATCHING THE CABLE OFF WHILE IT WAS RUNNING USUALLY HURT NUTHIN', AND WOULD INDICATE MR. ALTERNATOR WAS ALTERNATIN'
JUST AS A GOOD PRACTICE
DON'T DO IT ANYMORE!
USE A VOLTMETER TO CHECK THE BATTERY POSTS W/ CAR OFF/ AND THE SAME PLACE WITH IT RUNNING
OFF SHOULD YIELD AROUND 12 - 12.5 VOLTS DC
RUNNING SHOULD BE BETWEEN 13.5 - 14 VOLTS DC IF THE ALTERNATOR IS WORKING
HOWEVER, THIS IS ONLY A VOLTAGE TEST (USUALLY GOOD ENOUGH) MR. BATTERY REALLY NEEDS A "LOAD TEST" TOO, TO INSURE ALL IS GOOD. YOU CAN BUY A DEVICE TO CHECK THIS TOO, IT'S JUST MUCH EZier TO LET THE AUTO STORE DO IT
WHY NOT SNATCH A CABLE WHILE IT'S RUNNING?
THESE NEW FANGLED ALTERNATORS AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS CANNOT HANDLE THE "SPIKE/ SURGE" THIS WILL DO TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON MORE MODERN CARS. ATTEMPTING TO BE A GOOD SAMARITAN FOR FAMILY MEMBERS/ FRIENDS MIGHT BE COSTLY. NOT TO MENTION HOW THEY MIGHT NOT SPEAK TO YOU FOR A WHILE!
SURELY YOU DON'T WANNA HAVE TO BUY A $100+ ALTERNATOR OR A $500+ COMPUTER, NOT TO MENTION TOW BILLS/ DIAGNOSTICS/ LABOR JUST 'CAUSE YOU DIDN'T WANNA BUY A $5 VOLTMETER DOWN AT "HARBOR FREIGHT"
I'M DONE "GENERICALLY" PREACHING
KEEP US INFORMED ON YOUR PROGRESS!
THE MEDIC
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Thursday, October 30th, 2014 AT 7:41 PM
