Quote:
Originally Posted by svxcess
SIMPLE TEST
Connect the POS and NEG leads of the multimeter to the POS and NEG battery terminals. Set the meter to DC voltage.
On a fully-charged battery, you should read about 12.7V with the car off.
Start the car and the voltage should go up at least 1V above that. this indicates the alternator is charging.
Now load the system by turning on the lights and blower motor. The readings should initially dip and rebound. This indicates the alternator is handling the load.
If the readings drop and not rebound, or slowly continue to drop, your alternator is having a problem with charging.
The best way is to have it properly load-tested off of the car.
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Right on as always! ...except... sometimes our alternator can be erratic and work great "only" part of the time. A load test could possible check out fine, at the moment, and that would make it harder to diagnose the problem when it occurs again. (If this sounds like mutiny, it isn't) You are a life saver for us!
For the SVX folks that are pretty aware about all the "why's", we have a variety of ways to determine exactly what the problem is even if we can't catch it "in the act"
Keith
