bad alternator??

[cruisen_15]

at idle my alternator only shows a flat 14.00v , i heard u want 14.2, anyony think i should have it load checked at a schucks or somethin?

[techy101]

Originally Posted by cruisen_15

at idle my alternator only shows a flat 14.00v , i heard u want 14.2, anyony think i should have it load checked at a schucks or somethin?

Sounds totally normal to me. It'll charge at anything above 13.4 (or is it 13.7?) I believe.

[Crazy_pilot]

It varies depending on what you have running at the time. If you check while you have the headlights, A/C, radio, and everything else going, it's going to read lower than normal. Anything between 13 and 15 is fine.

[Manarius]

As long as you aren't getting the charge light, you're good.

[subarufamily]

as long as the altenator is still putting out more than 12.5 volts at idle you are good to go

[kwren]

Originally Posted by cruisen_15

at idle my alternator only shows a flat 14.00v , i heard u want 14.2, anyony think i should have it load checked at a schucks or somethin?

count your blessings and "if it works, don't fix it!" If it doesn't continue this great performance, it will let you know in time to fix it!

[elvis]

Originally Posted by Manarius

As long as you aren't getting the charge light, you're good.

Actually, I have recently been stranded twice with a dead alternator. Yes, the replacement died a week after it went in.

Idiot light never even flickered. I know it's not burnt out because it lights when starting the car.

I had the simmilar electrical symptoms on my 1st SVX (bought new in '92). Replace the battery several times thinkng that it was the problem. Ended up selling the car.

[Manarius]

Originally Posted by elvis

Actually, I have recently been stranded twice with a dead alternator. Yes, the replacement died a week after it went in.

Idiot light never even flickered. I know it's not burnt out because it lights when starting the car.

I had the simmilar electrical symptoms on my 1st SVX (bought new in '92). Replace the battery several times thinkng that it was the problem. Ended up selling the car.

That's weird. Everytime I've been in a car with a failing alternator, it was blatantly obvious that it was failing and we went home right away...

[kwren]

[QUOTE=elvis;498169]Actually, I have recently been stranded twice with a dead alternator. Yes, the replacement died a week after it went in.

Idiot light never even flickered. I know it's not burnt out because it lights when starting the car.

Yes, Chances are that without the idiot light coming on the original alternator you replaced with the replacement that only lasted a week, neither of the alternators were defective.

[Trevor]

Originally Posted by elvis

Actually, I have recently been stranded twice with a dead alternator. Yes, the replacement died a week after it went in.

Idiot light never even flickered. I know it's not burnt out because it lights when starting the car.

I had the simmilar electrical symptoms on my 1st SVX (bought new in '92). Replace the battery several times thinkng that it was the problem. Ended up selling the car.

"Idiot light never even flickered." Illuminated? "Dead alternator" What was the exact nature of the fault?

The alternator fault light will illuminate in the event of any of several faults within the alternator. An IC is incorporated to this end. The light is not configured the same as the old type of charging light, which became known as an idiot light, due to the ammeter which it replaced being the preferred option.

The light is energised positive via the ignition switch and comes on by way of a true test when the engine is stationary. Proper functioning results in the ground circuit being broken via the included IC, as soon as the alternator produces voltage within a basic criteria.

In the event that the light does not illuminate with the engine running, this should positively indicate that there is no basic fault within the alternator, including any fault involving the IC.

[kwren]

Originally Posted by Trevor

"Idiot light never even flickered." Illuminated? "Dead alternator" What was the exact nature of the fault?

The alternator fault light will illuminate in the event of any of several faults within the alternator. An IC is incorporated to this end. The light is not configured the same as the old type of charging light, which became known as an idiot light, due to the ammeter which it replaced being the preferred option.

The light is energised positive via the ignition switch and comes on by way of a true test when the engine is stationary. Proper functioning results in the ground circuit being broken via the included IC, as soon as the alternator produces voltage within a basic criteria.

In the event that the light does not illuminate with the engine running, this should positively indicate that there is no basic fault within the alternator, including any fault involving the IC.

that is what I just said

[Trevor]

Originally Posted by kwren

that is what I just said

Not what I said. Read again. I put forward three specific questions, which if answered could throw light on an issue which has been placed in doubt.

[kwren]

Originally Posted by Trevor

Not what I said. Read again. I put forward three specific questions, which if answered could throw light on an issue which has been placed in doubt.

Gibberish. We just want the simple information that helps our SVX's to stay on the road

[Trevor]

Originally Posted by kwren

Gibberish. We just want the simple information that helps our SVX's to stay on the road

To some a simple technical information is obviously gibberish, but not to all. It would be stupid if enquiries into technical matters, exceeding the understanding of some, should be disallowed based on the arbitrary wants of the prejudiced.

Here a useful piece of information is involved. This constitutes possible knowledge as to whether the test system in the alternator is, or is not, fool proof. It is possible that the IC could fail to an open circuit. An answer will comprise valuable, "simple information that helps our SVX's to stay on the road."