Hi,

I have an issue with my (non Ford) charging system. Used to be that you could take your alternator to the parts store and they would test it. Haven't checked with the stores, but their websites sure don't talk about it.

Does anybody know if any of the chains still do that?

Thanks,

hj

ps -- where this alt is located, I can't even get at the test spot to bypass the regulator.

 

I don't know that Advance Auto still does it on the vehicle but they will test an alternator or starter inside the store.

Not sure their level of expertise exceeds a pass/fail test administered by some device they connect but it might help isolate any issues you're having.

Does the vehicle in question utilize the OBD system to monitor the charging system?

 

Nope -- it's an 84 Fiero, and it's located in such a bad place that I couldn't really check much on the car. It quit charging, and I'd like to see if it's functioning at all. Now that it's out I can do some wiring checks as well.

Thanks for the tip on Advance.

hj

 

I recently had an alternator off a '97 F150 checked at a NAPA store. The girl behind the counter ran the test and said the alternator was good. I felt the she was wrong, I couldn't find any other problems and all the symptoms pointed to the alternator, so we got it tested again at an O'Reilly's and it came up bad. Guess the girl at NAPA didn't know how to test an alternator...too bad, cost them the sale. So I guess my point is to get a second opinion if you don't think the kid behind the counter has a clue, too many youngsters working in the stores these days who don't really know what they're doing. I was actually somewhat surprised that it was the NAPA store that blew it, not the other way around.

Some places still have electrical shops that can test and rebuild, that's all they do so they generally know their way around a starter or alternator. And many times the problem is simply a bad diode or voltage regulator which is often an easy fix, not requiring a complete rebuild of the alternator.

 

I question whether or not those tests are conducted "under load" - I've asked the folks in these parts houses whether or not their tests were load tests - and most of them have no idea what I'm talking about...