Alternator testing tools

The following are the reasons why an alternator might fail: The carbon brushes might fail The contact rings might wear out due to heat and use The voltage regulator might be faulty The alternator bearings both interior and exterior might be bad If any of these becomes faulty, your alternator will not be able to work efficiently again which will lead to it failing and you being at risk of a major inconvenience.

Tools for Testing an Alternator There are two tools that can be used to test an alternator. This is because the battery uses DC and that is what you will be testing. After reading the registered voltage: Turn on your car accessories such as the headlights, the air conditioner, the heater and others that rely on electric power to work. Rev the car engine and just like before, observe what the voltmeter reads. Warning signs of bad alternator or bad battery Every vehicle has a battery warning light on its information panel which usually comes on when the engine is ignited.

This translates to a fault with the alternator or battery. The vehicle does not seem to have any problem when you jumpstart. The following point to a bad alternator: Bad alternator symptoms: The car engine does not start upon ignition. Vehicle stalls while driving. The spanner wrench for the lower part of the coupler will only work with the Continental part or equivalent. Wrench will not work on the older spring clutch type alternator drives. The product quality is not that great for the cost.

However it got the job done, I would have been better to go to a local machine shop. Aircraft Spruce assumes no responsibility or liability for any issue or problem which may arise from any repair, modification or other work done from this knowledge base. Any product eligibility information provided here is based on general application guides and we recommend always referring to your specific aircraft parts manual, the parts manufacturer or consulting with a qualified mechanic.

Quick Shop. Length Quantity. Also, start the engine and use your DVOM to check the charging output of the alternator. Testing an AlternatorIf the alternator is working well, your multimeter should read somewhere in the vicinity of 14 volts typically If it is reading excessively higher than 14 volts greater than 15 volts , it is possible that the voltage regulator on your alternator is faulty or going bad.

If it is reading lower than volts, there are several possibilities as to the reason. Try revving up the engine to RPM or higher and take a reading. If the voltage is still too low, check to be sure all the connectors on your alternator are tight and that the alternator belt is not slipping and is spinning on the pulley correctly.

A car alternator needs to be putting out at least volts ideally between When a battery is near fully charged, the alternator will cease to put out sufficient voltage to charge the battery. If you are having intermittent starting problems, stop by your local O'Reilly Auto Parts store and let us test your starting system. If the vehicle won't start and you suspect the starter is the problem, bring the starter in and our Parts Professionals can bench test it. Our Parts Professionals will install wiper blades and replacement bulbs free of charge with purchase of wiper blades or bulbs.

Restrictions apply. See your local store for details. Many vehicle repairs require tools that will only be used once. The O'Reilly Auto Parts Loaner Tool Program is available at all of our locations, covering a wide range of tools that cover almost any job. A deposit is required which is fully refundable once the tool is returned.

See available loaner tools. Collision repair professionals and do-it-yourselfers alike turn to O'Reilly Auto Parts AutoColor for unmatched quality and service.