Alternater question
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Alternater question
1988 F250 xtracab lariat 7.3 Diesel 5spd
I would be thankful if someone would answer this question. How do you tell if your alternater is putting out the correct amount of voltage and amps? Also, does the gauge show the level of the battery or what? Mine will show about ten volts after sitting about. Week. After I drive it on the freeway for a while it will come up. When I make a stop and return to start again, it is showing about ten volts.
I would be thankful if someone would answer this question. How do you tell if your alternater is putting out the correct amount of voltage and amps? Also, does the gauge show the level of the battery or what? Mine will show about ten volts after sitting about. Week. After I drive it on the freeway for a while it will come up. When I make a stop and return to start again, it is showing about ten volts.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Charles Town, W bygod Va
Ten volts is low, but your gauge could be off. If you have a handheld voltmeter, connect it to the battery and read the voltage. You should have about 12v with engine off, and 13.5-14.5 or so with it running. To check the amperage output, you will need...you guessed it, an amp meter. Clamp the meter around the big wire coming out of the alt then put a load on the battery or full field the alt and see what it maxes out at. If your trucks voltmeter reads higher with the engine running than when not, that's a pretty good indication that your alt is working.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Faibanks Ak.
A volt meter shows how much voltage is in your batteries (ideally) factory guages leave a lot to be desired.
If you have a volt meter it will show less right after you have started it, and come back to normal after running a little while.
If you have a volt meter it will show less right after you have started it, and come back to normal after running a little while.
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