Alternator
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Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2014
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Alternator
I have a 1999 Ford Ranger with a 3.0 V6. The battery light has been coming on and the amp gauge either shows not charging or it shows OVER charging and other times it shows normal and the battery light is not on. So I took off the alternator and brought it in to my local auto parts store. They tested the alternator twice and it showed to be good. The service tech said he had never seen an alternator do what I explained to him mine was doing. He stated either they are bad or they are good. I bought a new one anyway and my problem has seemed to stop. I guess my point is you can have an alternator that works sometimes and other times it don't work.
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,208
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That regulator is bolted on the back of the alternator. Not hard to change. If you decide to change it out. Take VR out and inspect the slip rings for excess wear and grooving. They are bad about that especially if they have 150k + miles on it.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 85
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From: Tehachapi
Had this same thing happen to me on at least 3 different vehicles now. For some reason the parts stores equipment can only tell if its gone compleatly bad not "on its way out" bad. You would think they could check the regulator as well? Go figure o.0
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,851
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From: SW Va
We can do sort of a load test by turning on all of our heavy electrical loads, like head & fog lights, blower motor on high speed, AC on, cigar lighter pushed in/on, rear window defogger on, ect & see how the voltage regulator & alternator output reacts to a heavy electrical load. Sometimes it has to be really warm to act out.
Most autoparts stores can bench test the alternator at its max amp load rating & that'll usually cause things to happen if the regulator diodes have a problem, or the brushes or slip rings are worn & not making good contact, ect.
Most autoparts stores can bench test the alternator at its max amp load rating & that'll usually cause things to happen if the regulator diodes have a problem, or the brushes or slip rings are worn & not making good contact, ect.
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