1995 Jaguar XJ6 Low or no alternator output

DANIEL KING

MEMBER
1995 JAGUAR XJ6
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
123,500 MILES

This Jaguar has stopped charging the battery. I smellled a strong odor on an 80 mile drive and the dash voltmeter read below 13 volts. When I got home about an hour later, I checked the battery voltage with the engine running, and it was only about 12.5 volts. The next morning with everything cold, it read 13.2 volts for a few minutes, then dropped to 12.5 volts after warmup. The battery was 25% diischarged after the long drive, so I charged it slowly for about 5 hours and reconnected it. Its specfic gravity is even in all cells, and cables and connectors are clean and tight. How likely is it that just replacing the alternator will correct this problem?

1 Reply

JAMES W.

MECHANIC
2,395 POSTS

Very likely it will solve your problem. Before you do, testing at the battery with the engine running, a volt meter should read approx. 13-1/2 to 15 volts. Below 13 or 13-1/2 volts, your alternator isn't charging. Also, if you turn on your lights and add more load it should drop even more.