Alternator question
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 201
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From: Schaumburg, IL
Alternator question
Ok, I was getting the battery light at idle, with a real low needle on the ammeter. The alternator was under a lifetime warranty so I got a replacement (says rebuilt, but looks brand new). Now the ammeter needle is all the way to the right - not in the red, but on the line. I checked the voltage at the battery & I'm getting 17+ volts. Bad new alternator, or did I miss something? I noticed the small single plug on the top of the alternator didn't seem to fit real snugly. The tab which helps hold it on was broken off. - is that wire for the voltage regulator? It wasn't that hard to replace the alternator, but I'd just as soon not pull it again if I don't have to. Thanks for your help, guys.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,997
Likes: 2,742
From: Virginia
If that plug is loose, it could be the problem. The internal regulator monitors the system voltage through one of those small wires. If it's loose or a poor connection, then it thinks the system voltage is low, and cranks out too much power. Try squeezing the connectors together a little bit with a screwdriver to make them tight on the terminals.
