Electrical problems...
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 65
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From: Camp Pendleton CA
Electrical problems...
The other day I noticed my AC/Heater controls stopped working, and my CD player was skipping a little for no reason. Later at night when I had my lights on I noticed the sound it would make if you left your lights on when the car was off, but it was making it as I was driving down the road. I was kind of irritated that something else was going wrong so I just turned up the radio.
Now yesterday, I noticed that my Voltage is floating between 9.5 and 10.5. The last time I changed the battery was January this year, so I checked: belt was tight, wires looked good. So I replaced the alternator.
When I cranked it up, there was no change. It's doing the exact same thing, no proof I changed the alternator except busted nuckles.
What do I do now?
Now yesterday, I noticed that my Voltage is floating between 9.5 and 10.5. The last time I changed the battery was January this year, so I checked: belt was tight, wires looked good. So I replaced the alternator.
When I cranked it up, there was no change. It's doing the exact same thing, no proof I changed the alternator except busted nuckles.
What do I do now?
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: Electrical problems... (BadDriver)
With the engine running, the battery voltage should be 14 + volts cold and 13+ volts hot. If the alternator is not charging the battery, the red battery symbol light on the dash will be lit. Your symptoms are that of low system (battery) voltage. Fully charged a car battery should measure 13 volts, and 12.0 volts when discharged. The voltage at the alternator output terminal should be the same as the voltage measured across the battery terminals. If the voltage measure significantly different, then you might have a blown fusible link in the alternator output wire. If you charge the battery overnight and the battery voltage still isn't over 12.0 volts, you may have a defective battery.
