When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I completely disassembled my alternator to remove the corrosion under the powder coating and have put it back together but wanted to conduct a basic bench test to insure nothing is open or shorted. As always, there's a ton of YT videos from amateur mechanics looking to make a buck but none answered my basic question. I'm well aware of how to test for a failed alternator or voltage regulator but that's different. So obviously the ground terminal is grounds and the positive terminal is isolated but what should the readings be between 'F' or 'R' and either terminal. My meter is capable of testing diodes if that's a test that should be conducted.
How much do you understand about how electrical circuits work? If you have sufficient understanding, you should be able to look at this schematic and figure out what you should see with an Ohm meter. If not, perhaps some of us could help you understand. (this is a generic picture from the internet, not from the shop manual for your car, which you should be referring to)
And you might have a 50/50 chance that they test it properly, and drew the correct conclusion!
Scott.
I always watch an ask if they know the difference between power and ground and see if they know what the field wire does
If it creates current. At the right voltage. Then it's good.
In days of yore the big 3 shop manuals provided detailed instructions for breaking down an alternator into its pieces, rotor, stator, bearings, slip rings, brushes and diodes. The manuals call out all specifications for output, resistance, torque, everything you needed to know then, because it was expected that a tech would fix an alternator rather than throw it on a pile and open a box.
There are places where they still fix things. I have fixed a few old alternator s changing and soldering diodes changing bearings. We did because the kit cost 12 dollars an it took 45 minutes.. we also used to rebuild calipers and master cylinders with kits. That place that still fixes things is south of the border. Or if you want to find shops that can fix things look in the neighborhoods that 60 dollars to fix an alternator or starter and not 200 for a new on means a lot.
Alternator bench test
