Bad Alternator?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Chicago, IL
Bad Alternator? Replaced my 5 year old car battery cause it died. A jump wouldn't bring it back to life for long. Took the battery to Autozone & had it tested...battery was toast. Replaced the battery with a brand new Optima Red Top.
It's been working fine since last Wednesday but just now I parked it for 2 hours...came back & the car started but the voltage was just at the last tip of the red marks & the Check Gages light was on.
Driving it brought the voltage up to 13...at idle it sunk to just below 13. I'm thinking the alternator isn't charging the battery properly.
Any thoughts on this?
It's been working fine since last Wednesday but just now I parked it for 2 hours...came back & the car started but the voltage was just at the last tip of the red marks & the Check Gages light was on.
Driving it brought the voltage up to 13...at idle it sunk to just below 13. I'm thinking the alternator isn't charging the battery properly.
Any thoughts on this?
Last edited by pacorocco6; May 29, 2017 at 09:42 PM.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Chicago, IL
Pretty Sure Alternator Feeling more confident it's the alternator.
After sitting overnight...Cold, it starts just fine. Voltage was good.
Just drove it for 30 mins, let it sit for 30 mins, & started it. Check Gages light was lit & the voltage was in the beginning of the red. After driving it a few seconds it went back up to just over 13.
It's definitely the alternator then right?
After sitting overnight...Cold, it starts just fine. Voltage was good.
Just drove it for 30 mins, let it sit for 30 mins, & started it. Check Gages light was lit & the voltage was in the beginning of the red. After driving it a few seconds it went back up to just over 13.
It's definitely the alternator then right?
