Alternator going out?
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: British Columbia
Alternator going out?
When my interior blower heater is on high my Voltmeter reads barely above 12 volts when I turn it off it comes back up to about 14 volts . Is my alternator getting tired?
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 299
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From: central valley California
No it sounds if your blower motor is going out as motors age they have a break down of the windings and as these winding break down. they start to leak voltage and draw a higher amperage thus resulting in a lower reading on the ampmeter.
The best way to tell if you alternator is going is is to take a VOM and place it on DC volt and turn on all your accessories and measure (test) voltage at the battery terminals. You should have a reading of 13.9 volt to 14.2 volt dc if you have 13.00 it is still producing voltage and anything below 13 means that you have a charging problem
The best way to tell if you alternator is going is is to take a VOM and place it on DC volt and turn on all your accessories and measure (test) voltage at the battery terminals. You should have a reading of 13.9 volt to 14.2 volt dc if you have 13.00 it is still producing voltage and anything below 13 means that you have a charging problem
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 342
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From: British Columbia
This happens while driving too.
I''ll run a multimeter test with it running and accessories all on and post what I get.
If it is reading low can you get brushes for these alternators and change them out? It is the truck in my signature.
And if it the blower fan, can I wait till it craps out completely ?Will this do any harm-- as long as it reads 13volts or better at the battery terminals all is good right?
I''ll run a multimeter test with it running and accessories all on and post what I get.
If it is reading low can you get brushes for these alternators and change them out? It is the truck in my signature.
And if it the blower fan, can I wait till it craps out completely ?Will this do any harm-- as long as it reads 13volts or better at the battery terminals all is good right?
Last edited by coplin; Oct 8, 2005 at 03:01 PM.
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 342
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From: British Columbia
Ok with the truck running at idle no accessories on I'm getting 14.8-9 at the battery posts. With all accesssories on including the blower fan at high speed and some fog lights I recently added I'm getting 14.6-7 volts at the battery. Obviously the factory gauge in the dash is horribly inaccurate it looks like its showing only 12 or 13 volts.
So i think all is well ---for now.....
Shout out to the those who gave me suggestions.
So i think all is well ---for now.....
Shout out to the those who gave me suggestions.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,908
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From: West Mansfield, Ohio
Mine does the same thing on my 95, at idle that is. If my headlights are on and my blower motor is on high, the headlights will dim and the gauge will drop. Once I rev it up past 900 like ford390 just stated, everything brightens up.
