Alternators

[McWatters]

I need a new alternator as far as i know, Everytime i leave a light on or car door open the battery just drains like a mother ****a. any ideas? is it just the battery or is the alternator a problem as well??

cheers

J.McWatters

[Dr. evil]

i know that my car uses a battery ever two years.

Maybe you should take it to autozone and have them test it????

[McWatters]

hmm good idea.

cheers

J.McWatters

[dacoyote]

FWIW... autozone isn't the end all of battery testing....

I have had batteries that tested good at autozone... that wheren't worth the metal in them....

[Javier]

different situations (Shogun has written extensively about the matter).

If voltage test OK, guess you problem is the battery, as it is not holding/receiving charge. If voltages are low, then it is possible you have a weak regulator in the alternator.

Javier

[632 Regal]

exactly, i guess worn out battery if the lights are bright when the car is running.

[McWatters]

well yea we charged it. then drove it then when i turned it off it wouldnt start again. so had to boost it. lights are all fine as usual. it just dies immediately

cheers

J.McWatters

[Rory535i]

get a voltmeter and check the voltage at the battery when the car is running and also at the alternator. put on your lights and wipers etc and see how much the voltage drops, if any. if it stays consistent then your alternator is fine. should be around 13.8 volts

[Javier]

Hidden Functions (http://home.iae.nl/users/bts/obc.htm). Test 9 is a voltage reading at + post in engine compartment.

Javier