ALTERNATOR!!

[JMSinMaryland]

How do you know when you need a new alternator? I was told mine in is running 13.2V & 40 A. I don't have an upgraded system and the only thing recently is it has been in the high 90's and the air has been on. The car is a 1999 Camry V6. Are there any signs or anything definitive? My dealership is willing to charge me labor of 1 hour ($90) and let me bring in my own which I picked up a Duralast from Advanced Auto with a lifetime warranty for $140. Please advise. Thanks. Jon.

[Nodrogkam]

so you got your alternator checked out then? Kragen/Autozone and ibet a few others check this for free. I got mine checked along with my battery. I forgot the specs though. If your battery is still good but it still dies because the alternator cant charge it fast enough is a good sign. When you turn on all electrics the car wants to stall is a good sign.

If you're going to get a new alternator why not go swap in one from the highlander! MORE POWER! haha

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

symptoms of bad alternator:
1. gauge lights at night time seem dimmer and seem to brighten when you accelarate
2. your headlights/fogs seem to be brigher (at night time easy to notice) when you accelerate than when at idle.
3. If you roll down your windows, your headlights/gauge lights seem to dim.
4. the last tidbit is when your alternator is really on its last leg...needing constant jumpstarts.

[JMSinMaryland]

It wound up being the battery, replaced under warranty

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

FYI: your alternator always takes out your battery as well.

[Nodrogkam]

haha good.

did you get a good battery?

[JMSinMaryland]

I bought a Toyota battery and had them install it on 1/27/05. It came with an 18 month free replacement/5yr proration. I had 7 days until it was over (i.e. free replacement) so it worked out well. The new battery has an 18 month warranty that begins today, hopefully I won't have to use it. i.e. warranty

[ubbyba]

A good way to check your alternator is to turn the car on. let it run for a min. and then take the negative terminal off of your battery. If the car stays on you have a good alternator. if it shuts off you need to have your alternator checked. It should be able to run your car alone.


Edit by yanks0114: Be sure to read Jon's post below before doing this!!!!

[DatSRBoi]

A good way to check your alternator is to turn the car on. let it run for a min. and then take the negative terminal off of your battery. If the car stays on you have a good alternator. if it shuts off you need to have your alternator checked. It should be able to run your car alone.

Wow did you creat an account just to post this?

(not being rude just saw you only had one post count)

[Jon11582]

A good way to check your alternator is to turn the car on. let it run for a min. and then take the negative terminal off of your battery. If the car stays on you have a good alternator. if it shuts off you need to have your alternator checked. It should be able to run your car alone.

DO NOT DO THIS!!!!
THis worked on cars in the 70s when all you had was an analog radio. THe battery also acts as a voltage regulator. The alternator doesnt put out a constant voltage, but the battery makes it constant.

If you pull the terminal off, you will risk frying your more voltage sensitive electronics, which cars are loaded with these days.

[4ell77]

SPAMMER LINKS DELETED by PhreakdOut

[Hsakuragi]

oh crap

[DatSRBoi]

oh schlock-schlock-schlock

WTF is wrong with all these trolls and spam now days?

[PhreakdOut]

SPAMMER LINKS DELETED by PhreakdOut

さようなら Spammer!