Dim alternator light take 2
08-24-2012, 03:03 PM
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Racer
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Dim alternator light take 2
Hi all, looked around and think i found the answer but want to be sure:
1997 cab. replaced alternator about 8-10 years ago at dealer. Car has 30k miles total.
New battery this past spring.
Driving around and alternator light came up dim. Cleaned + and - terminals and same symptom.
put volt meter on battery:
1. car off: 12.9
2. car running (idle) 11 and change
Voltage drops as rpms go up, I assume due to drag on battery from plugs?
voltage readings match at + and - and + and car ground.
From reading on the forum, sounds like its not the ground strap, but is either voltage regulator or alternator. Any way to nail that down before disassembly/ordering of parts?
I already have a pending order from sunset, should I add an alternator or can I save money by buying local auto-zone etc?
1997 cab. replaced alternator about 8-10 years ago at dealer. Car has 30k miles total.
New battery this past spring.
Driving around and alternator light came up dim. Cleaned + and - terminals and same symptom.
put volt meter on battery:
1. car off: 12.9
2. car running (idle) 11 and change
Voltage drops as rpms go up, I assume due to drag on battery from plugs?
voltage readings match at + and - and + and car ground.
From reading on the forum, sounds like its not the ground strap, but is either voltage regulator or alternator. Any way to nail that down before disassembly/ordering of parts?
I already have a pending order from sunset, should I add an alternator or can I save money by buying local auto-zone etc?
