Is my alternator dead?
#22
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: El Centro, CA
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I'm having similar symptoms and my car wont start now
before... (when my car was running) my dash-lights would flicker at idle
yesterday I started my car up and the EPS light was flickering like crazy
so I turned the car off right after, and it hasn't started since
-unplugged and took the battery to be tested at Autozone, and it was bad
-installed new battery and same result
Car doesn't even crank over
Dash-lights don't even come up when I turn key all the way to on
before... (when my car was running) my dash-lights would flicker at idle
yesterday I started my car up and the EPS light was flickering like crazy
so I turned the car off right after, and it hasn't started since
-unplugged and took the battery to be tested at Autozone, and it was bad
-installed new battery and same result
Car doesn't even crank over
Dash-lights don't even come up when I turn key all the way to on
#23
Registered User
I had an issue earlier in the year and I wasn't sure if it was the battery or the alternator. Turns out it was the battery and the alternator output was fine but in the precess I did a test of the alternator and here is what I had. Hope this helps
Battery
before start up (all power off): 12.67V (dips to ~9.5V when starter is engaged).
With car on:
No electrical load:
At idle: 13.39V
At 3k RPM: 14.41V
Lights only on:
At idle: 14.26 initially then up to 14.32
At 3k RPM: 14.37
A/C only on:
At idle: ~13.5 initially then up to 14.19
At 3k RPM: 14.20
Both Lights and A/C on:
At idle: 14.02
At 3k RPM: 14.12
Turned power off and battery voltage started dropping into the 13's.
Battery
before start up (all power off): 12.67V (dips to ~9.5V when starter is engaged).
With car on:
No electrical load:
At idle: 13.39V
At 3k RPM: 14.41V
Lights only on:
At idle: 14.26 initially then up to 14.32
At 3k RPM: 14.37
A/C only on:
At idle: ~13.5 initially then up to 14.19
At 3k RPM: 14.20
Both Lights and A/C on:
At idle: 14.02
At 3k RPM: 14.12
Turned power off and battery voltage started dropping into the 13's.
#24
Registered User
Originally Posted by S2KennyT,Dec 26 2010, 01:40 PM
I'm having similar symptoms and my car wont start now
before... (when my car was running) my dash-lights would flicker at idle
yesterday I started my car up and the EPS light was flickering like crazy
so I turned the car off right after, and it hasn't started since
-unplugged and took the battery to be tested at Autozone, and it was bad
-installed new battery and same result
Car doesn't even crank over
Dash-lights don't even come up when I turn key all the way to on
before... (when my car was running) my dash-lights would flicker at idle
yesterday I started my car up and the EPS light was flickering like crazy
so I turned the car off right after, and it hasn't started since
-unplugged and took the battery to be tested at Autozone, and it was bad
-installed new battery and same result
Car doesn't even crank over
Dash-lights don't even come up when I turn key all the way to on
By the way the alternator passed the Autozone test too with bad diodes. Don't trust their test for our alternators.
#25
Originally Posted by ronnuke,Dec 29 2010, 02:26 AM
Sounds like you need a new diode pack for your alternator. I had similar symptoms with the flickering dash lights and weakening battery until I replaced my diode pack on my alternator, I replaced the brushes too for good measure. HTH
By the way the alternator passed the Autozone test too with bad diodes. Don't trust their test for our alternators.
By the way the alternator passed the Autozone test too with bad diodes. Don't trust their test for our alternators.
#26
Registered User
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