I do almost all of my own work on vehicles now. Just wanted to say that this video is the one that really started it all. Before this video, all I was doing was oil and brakes. I used this video to fix my first alternator problem. I bought a new alternator (like a typical swapper!) but because of this video, that part sits on my shelf brand new to this day. Because the troubleshooting (and specifically the drop tests) helped to definitively locate the source of the problem, which was a loose and dirty alternator hinge bolt on my 2004 subaru outback. Before then, I didn't even own a multimeter, and I literally had to walk step-by-step through this video. The tests help literally isolate the problem down to just a few inches of possible culprits. It totally changed my thinking, and ignited my interest in learning more. I have since done the water pump timing belt on a 2003 v6 Accord, axle ujoints, hubs, rebuilt drive shafts, installed lift kits, and helped a lot of people not get screwed by shops. I plan on making this the year that really increase my electrical diagnostics skills. I have a 96 Cherokee XJ that I love, so it will be enjoyable, but probably also necessary to know. Taking an old Jeep to a shop every time you have an electrical problem is a good way to go broke, and not have your vehicle for weeks at a time.
@missberries214
8 жыл бұрын
Im about to join you,I too like and enjoy this video and am hopeful to get to the bottom of my issue by using this video. 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse GTS V6 5-Speed At first the Alternator would work sometimes now it completely died,Im not sure but I suspect the previous owners wiring charade was the original cause.Theres an amplifier hooked up that constantly drains even with the ignition off.I have a son on the way,and I have to get this fixed asap before Every dollar gets spent on the baby lol. Im going to just replace the alternator and hope for the best,But will be testing the new system using this video to hopefully pinpoint any problems I might have.
@colterino
7 жыл бұрын
Yup..amazing, right...do all my brakes now (Honda Pilot...saved me what ? $2-300, labor ?) ...and did This Check...Feels good, right..ERIC Saves Us Bucks...and Empowers DIYers !...Kudos, Eric the CarGuy !..THANKS !
@chrisvocatura1112
7 жыл бұрын
Jordan Moore
@kemeticreality8945
7 жыл бұрын
Good job
@jimbridleman6261
7 жыл бұрын
Close
@salsarriba5695
3 жыл бұрын
this is 9 years but the youtube search brought me to one of the best car mechanic on yt. even these days there is nobody who can lay it out better than this guy ..
@paulgraham6353
4 жыл бұрын
Thank You. Perfect. I like the no nonsense presentation too. No hand waving, no attempt to make buddies, no guitar overlay, no trying to show off or act cute.
@anthonym612
8 жыл бұрын
I think Eric is my new favorite person on the internet. He's damn good at what he does and puts out really helpful videos.
@rodneybrimer1712
10 жыл бұрын
Thanks , I was showing bad alternator, I got new one put it on. Same thing. Watched your video I found a ground issue. Quick fix now it's working great.
@markmarchand8376
5 жыл бұрын
I keep coming back to you Eric......As a mechanic I have varied responsibilities with a multitude of equipment. I need to stay on top of things and you are one of two persons who I watch regularly. Dan Sullivan being the other makes it possible to stay informed. Thank you
@jasonbrown467
7 жыл бұрын
dude, i appreciate all your videos. you start with the basics, discuss theory of operation, cover variations and then work your way through a logical flow chart all the way to the end and then beat on things to not over look and then conclusion
@georgea0731
6 жыл бұрын
Great video, Dealer said over $500 for alternator part only, Advance Auto re-manufactured one was $130 w/ core. So far the new alternator is fixing the problem.
@mikekoenen77
11 жыл бұрын
Thanks for posting this video Eric! You've inspired me to learn about the Multimeter I've had for 10 years but haven't taken the time to educate myself about it, and how to diagnose my 2004 Santa Fe alternator/battery problem. Keep doing what you're doing ;)
@redhoggin0714
7 жыл бұрын
Tapping the alternator causes the brushes to temporarily make contact. One mechanic to another, Awesome video Eric. You explain things very well,
@guubagaaba8391
10 жыл бұрын
great video !!!! i am a tech for over 25 yrs.,but still like to watch back to the basics videos just to keep kinda brushed up !!!! however, as far as the computer controlled voltage regulator, i've only really seen dodge to be the worst !!!! and of course most customers don't believe you and go some where else !!! after that ,....who knows what happened !!! thanks for your videos !!!!
@rosedyno465
3 жыл бұрын
That video was very helpful.Thanks
@michaeltrumbo5223
6 жыл бұрын
I recently started doing as much work as possible on my own cars. Recently the battery light came on in one of our vehicles, I found this video, and solved the problem in just a few minutes. I was ready to go get a new alternator. After walking through all of the steps, I discovered that the belt just needed to be tightened.
@StephenVieau
10 жыл бұрын
you're like my old shop teacher! but not drunk :) good job :)
@phildonnakilmer5109
5 жыл бұрын
Our shop teacher drank Listerine
@RedEyedJedi
Жыл бұрын
I am so happy I've found this channel. I love doing work on my own car and have been increasing my collection of mechanics tools. I recently just changed the valve cover gasket on my car which on a normal car wouldn't be that difficult but my car is a VW Scirocco 2.0 tsi and it doesn't even have a gasket. It uses anaerobic sealant. To get the valve cover off, the vacuum pump, hpfp, pcv and upper timing cover needed to come off. I'm watching every video you have made Eric and I hope you keep making them because there is nothing better than being able to fix your own car. Thank you so much for the time and effort you out into making these videos. Take care and stay dirty.
@7usu7isso1
5 жыл бұрын
One more test to do is to measure the AC voltage across the battery terminals while the car is running. It should be zero, but if it is higher it means a diode is no good and needs to be replaced. Great Video!
@butch2700
6 жыл бұрын
Scotty you are main reason why I stop taking my car's to mechanics.Stuff that I thought was hard to fix you made it look easy.Just watching your videos did the trick. Thanks for all the videos.
@paula2917
Жыл бұрын
his name is actually Eric
@restore64
6 жыл бұрын
Your videos are always a great help. Thanks for dedicating so much time to make these. I run a lot of electronics in my vehicle and my Honda only maintains the battery voltage it doesn't really charge it. I also need a HO alternator and was curious if a self exciting one that constantly ran at 14.8v would damage anything?
@lisnut
4 жыл бұрын
My sons Exterra had a battery light on, with the car started was only getting 12.4 volts felt the terminals was very hot ! Turns out he just replaced the battery but had a loose connection! after cleaning and tightening it was charging at 14.3 v Thank you So much Eric I always tend to watch your Video's, Good content with out allot of fluff!
@eddywade5346
8 жыл бұрын
Thanks!!! Your videos are consistently the best car videos I've seen around. Good solid advice and how-to's, with specific information such as what's shown in this video. I learn something everytime I watch one of these, and my wheels are still rollin'. Thanks a ton!!!
@akuma6099
9 жыл бұрын
Great video, Excellent troubleshooting flow chart. Thanks for the tip of checking differential voltage on positve/negative sides. as for oddsn'ends comment below: The author doesn't mention disconnecting your battery while running because this method if frowned upon with newer vehicles. That test can actually blow components. The battery acts as a filter cap and when your alternator spikes to 18v even for a nanosecond, you can potentialy destroy electronics because they operate at 12v with a small tolerance. You could get away 13, maybe even 14.5. It is dependant on the circuit and is risky even though it may seem to work. On older vehicles like mid 90's and below no problem. The test methods provided in this video may take an extra minute using a multimeter but it enables acurate diagnostics and less work. You don't need a socket to pull a terminal. That saves time. Thanks EricTheCarGuy!
@joeG9100
10 жыл бұрын
Great Video very informative. The only thing I saw for a recommendation is when Checking for voltage drop. You should set the meter to 2V not 20v, though in this case it would still pass. The meter should give you one one more digit of resolution in the 2V range.
@janslos
7 жыл бұрын
Eric, y're my hero, had some problems with charging, removed the alternator, tested it inside - outside, shit could not find the problem, finally I decided to search your channel, and there it was, the mass cable between the engine block and the body was corroded, I had a voltage drop of 1,6 V with almost everything on and the engine running idle, it went to the roof when I turned up the rpm. Thanks man, you saved me a lot of money again.
@ynef
5 жыл бұрын
This video just saved me from buying a new alternator. Turns out one of the wires had broken inside the socket so it wasn't that obvious at first glance. Thanks man!
@gabrielarchangel381
6 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the help using the meter to check the alternator for charging, you are the man!
@davidmcdonald8027
10 жыл бұрын
Very good instruction! Thank you Eric for taking the time in putting this together.
@shdwban4posting279
4 жыл бұрын
I haven't fixed the gauge yet, but I think that is the issue on an older truck that I have. Saved me about 40 dollars in parts and the grief of replacing those parts. Thanks Eric.
@SLOTERification
9 жыл бұрын
Thanks Eric!! You're very helpful in your comprehensive explanations. Helping me heaps at Mechanics school!!!
@brucewayne-cave
7 жыл бұрын
Best video I have seen on this topic. My 2004 Expedition "Check Charging System" randomly beeps, when it rains. Then went crazy beeping for 4 hours on my last trip in the rain. So we had to turn the radio up to full, for our sanity. The next day no rain, no beeping. New battery, alternator tested fine. I suspect a wiring harness?
@stevenbear218
4 жыл бұрын
I just had a check charging system and my battery light came wasn't too sure what to do thank you for making this video very helpful 😊
@Erik_Swiger
2 жыл бұрын
I'm going over videos today of you and Scotty as I figure out what's wrong with my 2000 Corolla. Alternator checks out for a load test, but the battery doesn't, and it's less than 2 years old. There's a lot of rust under the car, so I'm going to check my wiring connections and my grounds. Thanks for everything.
@JosephusXIX
8 жыл бұрын
Great video. Very thorough. It looks like the positive side voltage drop part wasn't included though.
@mrbreezeet1
6 жыл бұрын
No, It WAS NOT. I Ass-U-Me it is done the same as the negative.
@wmichaelbooth
6 жыл бұрын
It's not done the same as the negative. The positive side is tested between the positive battery terminal and the post on the back of the alternator, the one that was a wire bolted to it.
@byronbates8974
5 жыл бұрын
This point is stated in video.
@judyfowler9750
Жыл бұрын
Super great info much appreciated. I changed my terminals hoping it was it as the old ones were old N a tad corroded. The weather has been really cold after it started with a jump I failed to start for a few days so it was drained.
@grandprixuse
10 жыл бұрын
I cleaned the bolts that hold my car's alternator, and my voltage increased around .4 volts, while running engine :)
@phyl1283
Жыл бұрын
You neglected to mention a "slack" tensioner on the serpentine belt (if your car has one). These sometimes fail to maintain proper tension on the belt when the engine is operating. A "slick" belt can also allow inadequate friction between the belt and alternator pulley especially if the "back side" rather than the grooved side of the belt of the belt spins the alternator pulley. Wear causes the belt to become slick as if it were greased and can cause slippage. Check to see if some wires may have been chewed by a rodent or squirrel. Those animals are capable of chewing copper wires completely through. It happened on my Ford F350 Diesel when Mama squirrel built a nest under the hood and mothered 4 little babies in warm weather. I removed the nest and found that she had chewed an electrical wire completely in half when she built the nest. The engine would not even crank until I put the wire back together. Then it worked fine. The baby squirrels apparently have grown into adults and occupy trees around the house. No more trouble from them though. .
@judyfowler9750
Жыл бұрын
Eric you are very thorough thank you
@mikebarnes3238
4 жыл бұрын
Oldie but a good one. Nine years is a long time and you only got better
@maingun07
5 жыл бұрын
For diesel owners: If after starting the voltage is near or below battery voltage, the glow plugs may still be on. Glow plugs draw a lot of power and in some systems may be still be on for a minute or two after the engine is started. Either wait until the glow plugs shut off or disconnect the glow plug relay prior to starting.
@knownoversight
10 жыл бұрын
Thanks so much, I had a flat battery this morning, changed it but was still worried about the alternator, but thanks to your video I've just tested it and found it to be absolutely fine! :)
@paulchamberlin5354
4 жыл бұрын
Great thing about my 2006 Pontiac pursuit gt sedan... it tells you on the cluster when the alternator fails. 😊
@phantomwalker8251
4 жыл бұрын
so does my 1960 f100,but,non,tell you when the leads are corroded..which,is the main cause of dead car.lights,ect.
@siryeetster313
2 жыл бұрын
This is an old video so you probably won’t see this but thank you anyways. I hope you are healthy and thank you again.
@goonergooner3572
5 жыл бұрын
Eric this is phenomenal stuff! These videos are really great, and I'm learning so much! Keep them coming!
@sambell385
Жыл бұрын
That’ll be $5000 please😁
@colterino
7 жыл бұрын
Big Help, Eric !..Did all these test for a low, weak crank this morning. 2 year old Interstate pricey battery. Charged the battery. Got all the right readings as per your instructions (even not above 60 degrees ambient). So...Hahahaha...Why the weak crank this morning. Car had been sitting for only 3 days. 28 degree nites. Hmmmm
@TEAMCREAM_96
8 жыл бұрын
I would never take my car to a mechanic unless it's something I really couldn't do like transmission band adjustments or getting an alignment done. It just feels wrong to have someone else touch my car with out me being part of it
@koollee
8 жыл бұрын
Lol.. I hear u. i often feel the same
@TEAMCREAM_96
4 жыл бұрын
@Edie Beacon look it up smart guy
@geezerhull
6 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the excellent video Eric. It was very helpful. Mine turned out to be the fuseable link near the pos battery connection. It was fried. Am assuming that one of it's functions was to provide exciter voltage to the alternator. Also great to find out that the ecm could be controlling the alternator and that it can be bypassed in a pinch.
@kowhort
5 жыл бұрын
Excellent video, very informative!!
@tuggers7
9 жыл бұрын
i love that little motto of yours....."stay dirty"......
@danemontague6760
9 жыл бұрын
hey my battery does not charge..got the alternator checked..no problems there..what else can i check ?
@anfihn
9 жыл бұрын
Dane Montague Uh, the battery.
@maurice9118
9 жыл бұрын
Dane Montague Jup take a multimeter and start checking it
@obsessionsmotorcyclecardet15
6 жыл бұрын
George Clooney lol . I have only just found your channel, I have to thank you for taking the time to do so , I've just watched your battery drain video and im having the same problems with my KTM. I've found out I have a 5.5amp drain and pulled the fuse out of the solinoid and it goes to 0.00 so now at least I have some awnsers. Man I love you.! I fear my alternator has also gone .so here I am .
@INDEED9104
10 жыл бұрын
Fuck integrated voltage regulators.
@HighestRank
10 жыл бұрын
I'm shocked
@steadyeddie7453
2 жыл бұрын
You did a good job stressing the need to check connections. I'll take it a step further and say that when I have electrical issues I start by disconnecting the battery cables and cleaning the posts and terminals. Especially those side post batteries. They can hide corrosion at their connections. And unfortunately a voltage drop test won't show bad battery connections. Cheers.
@waynep343
10 жыл бұрын
working on cars.. voltage drop testing do you have a digital voltmeter..set it to 20 volts DC. engine off.. headlights on for one minute. then turned off.. check battery voltage.. 12.65 is a fully charged battery. 12.45 is a 3/4 charged battery. 12.25 is a 1/2 charged battery. if you have less than 12.5 volts have your battery charged and load tested.. once you verify that the battery is close to a full charge after you have removed the surface charge with the headlights on trick... get the engine started... turn the headlights back on.. Negative battery post to the positive battery post.. 14.1 to 14.8 volts is expected.. Negative battery post to the engine block. 0.04 volts DC MAX.. Negative battery post to the body of the car.. 0.02 volts DC MAX. Engine block to the Body.. 0.02 volts DC. if you get more than the 0.04 or 0.02 volts on tests 2, 3 or 4.. you have a bad ground connection.. you can and should also.. after running the voltage drop test above.. test from the battery post to the alternator output terminal.. because of the amount of output.. i normally expect this to be up around 0.07 volts..
@123xmilanx
4 жыл бұрын
If u do have a bad ground connection how do u fix it? I have a honda civic 2015 and I just replaced the alternator and the battery and the cars battery connection light came up
@trucker736
2 ай бұрын
Hey Eric. I literally just fixed my alternator of my Mitsubishi l300 using your video : there is a wire at the bottom of the alternator fastened with a 14mm bolt. It was corroded and broke off. Thanks alot
@TOPBOY52959
10 жыл бұрын
And this is how i learned that my alternator is a POS
@5jjt
8 жыл бұрын
Eric, I would recommend starting the video with a highly detailed and thoroughly explained drawing that communicates what we're going to be doing in the video before we actually do it. Because of multiple shots and camera-off and camera-on, it's easy to get lost while viewing and not receive what you intended to give. I've watched this multiple times and am still confused. Thank you.
@nitecorepd2230
10 жыл бұрын
never do the alternator test by removing negative cable on newer cars!!! or u will fuck something up. That shit worked fine with older cars but not today!
@TheGtech83
Жыл бұрын
Your video is still providing support, Thanks Eric!!!!
@stephenkuper9549
10 жыл бұрын
Hey Eric great video. Maybe i missed it but I only seen you do a resistance test on the the neg side but not on the pos side . You did mention where to test on the pos side do you use the same limits/scale on the pos side .1 to .2 volts resistance?
@NathanReevesnate808
4 жыл бұрын
Yes one probe goes to +b on alternator
@mstrehle42
8 жыл бұрын
I have to say what a Great video walking thru voltage drops and how to go threw a proper charging system and how to rule out other areas. I have a 2007 Dodge Ram 2500 5.7 L Hemi I have replaced the ECM Module and Starter a year ago. My Mechanic had my truck for a week he does a great job but I work for myself and dont alway have the money. I am having the same issue i had a year ago, I was coming home from a job and notice the battery discharging negatively and it got worse as the day went my alternator had a bearing hum replaced it and still having issues ALternator was not the issue but the bearing was showing wear. I know alot about motors and engines but I dont know everything Im a utility engineer and Im knowledgeable. This Video Made my battery and ECm and charging system easy to understand . Thank you for the Education......
@FxScalper
9 жыл бұрын
Manufactures do not make adequate ground for alternators. That is the problem. If they did, they would last longer and have more stable voltage. Bolting a alt to engine is NOT enough ground. Grounding alt body to chassis is better but still not enough. The only way to properly ground a alt to work optimally is to take apart alt and modify casing so that you can secure a 4gauge wire to the B- (negative side) of the rectifier bridge directly to the battery ground post. Do this and no more voltage/amp drops (assuming everything else is good).
@kasettspilleren
9 жыл бұрын
im in a car mechanic class and i got a big exam tomorrow, you probably just saved my ass, thanks. :)
@PaulT08
9 жыл бұрын
This video was awesome. Thank you so much Eric!
@austinburke9718
6 жыл бұрын
Thanks for videos. They have helped me when working on son's 98 4runner. I had an issue that seemed intermittent but was certain it was an alternator problem. Issue happened a couple of times again after checking all connections. First time testing alternator all tests passed. Performed again a few days later with diff test set and found diode test was failing. So, I got a rebuilt alternator from X part store. While testing in evening with lights on (eight miles after installing the alternator), radio and lights blinked. It blew the low beams. I installed the old alternator in parking lot so that I could get it home. I didnt want to take a chance on blowing high beams while trying to get home on new alternator. Took the new alternator to X where they tested new alternator - tested fine. It did not blow any fuses so I determined that it was not a high current issue but high voltage issue. X gave me another alternator and have had no problems. I still think it was a regulator issue with the 1st rebuilt alternator. Thoughts on supporting my theory. X would not replace my bulbs because of their alternator tests. Not happy because these bulbs are $25 for each. Thanks SteveBurke
@michaelrodgers41
8 жыл бұрын
u get any sleep man..take a vacation. u very infoemative. thanks.
@2-old-Forthischet
7 жыл бұрын
I had a Nissan Pathfinder that when running, would actually blow out the headlight and the heater motor sounded like a roots supercharger! This vehicle had a separate wire from the alternator to the battery post where the plastic connector corroded and failed so the majority of the charging was going right back into the car's electrical system and not the battery. The dealer wanted to change the entire engine bay wiring loom to which I told them to pound sand. A local car electric shop changed out the connector for $20. I also had a 1991 Camaro that wouldn't hold a charge so checked the usual suspects like you mentioned but couldn't find an obvious fault. This car didn't have a wire from the alternator to the battery but the positive battery cable had a mid point junction for the charging and accessories so in the end, had to change out the factory battery cable which was not cheap.
@bernfran1313
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for all this information. I wish I had watched this video before I took my 2016 Hyundai SantaFe to the AAA Auto Repair for service. I'm waiting on my diagnostics results at the moment.
@SamnissArandeen
9 жыл бұрын
5:00 You would not believe the amount of alternators I've fixed simply by checking the belt tension.
@Ultrajamz
9 жыл бұрын
Samniss Arandeen if I am suspecting the alternator belt tension, (odd squeek at low RPM range and intermittent rough idle) could hooking up a 2nd battery (as if I were going to jump it, even though the car starts and runs), diagnose an alternator issue? If I connect a 2nd battery, it could smooth out the voltages, and if my idle issue goes away, then I know its power related?
@Ultrajamz
9 жыл бұрын
Samniss Arandeen if I am suspecting the alternator belt tension, (odd squeek at low RPM range and intermittent rough idle) could hooking up a 2nd battery (as if I were going to jump it, even though the car starts and runs), diagnose an alternator issue? If I connect a 2nd battery, it could smooth out the voltages, and if my idle issue goes away, then I know its power related?
@SamnissArandeen
9 жыл бұрын
Ultrajamz I've never done that particular test. Usually I just check belt tension during the visual check of the alternator itself.
@bblando65
8 жыл бұрын
+Samniss Arandeen you wouldn't believe how many people falsely believe that by tightening their alternator belt, they'll fix an alternator problem...all they usually do is overtighten the belt, and burn out the alternator bearings..so yeah, 99.9999% of the time it is not belt tension...
@georgiachase9258
8 жыл бұрын
can an alternator still be bad if you pull out the cable and it runs the positive cable
@skipperandy2199
4 жыл бұрын
This truly is a great video. Nice refresher course for me, since I do do my own work, but not regularly, so I forget a few things, this video helped me refresh my knowledge. Thank you very much.
@SeaRay45DB
9 жыл бұрын
This was a great video. I was going to replace my alternator, but now learning that you want to be .5 above the battery condition has me thinking twice. I have done a peristaltic test, I do have an isolator in my truck, same batteries, Interstate, same age. Took the truck to Good year, they ran the test, everything came up clean, but still battery dies after 3/4 days.
@docohm50
8 жыл бұрын
Awesome video. I have replaced the battery/alt on my escape 9 months ago. I have no "Battery" light yet the battery drains to point vehicle stalls. Let vehicle sit it restarts again no battery light. I know the alternator harness looks like garbage, hopefully that is all that is needed. Thank you for this video.
@alnomatt
8 жыл бұрын
IF you START the video at 10:45 and end at 10:54 it appears as if the draw goes to .02 then .03 and you said that for this test it only registered .01. My question is not as a criticism but is it okay if instead it reading .01 it does read .03 would that be a unfavorable outcome? Perhaps you didn't notice the reading or it is not relevant? I'm just curious. Seems to contradict what you stated before.
@mandom4486
5 жыл бұрын
.01 - .03 is completely different from what he meant which is .1 and above which means there's too much resistance on a wire... It can be a corroded or rusty ground/connection on battery or a slit on a wire/broken insulation causing not all the power to get to its destination like say battery ground terminal to the ground on the chassis/engine block
@MCraig-ly1qq
5 жыл бұрын
Yes 0.03 is great. He said the limit was 0.10 Volts not 0.01 Volts. A reading of 0.03 is one third of the limit. You're good to go.
@brokenicry
Жыл бұрын
MOST USEFUL VIDEO ON THIS TOPIC TO DATE
@crimsonskies113
12 жыл бұрын
I have a question: if my headlights dim when my revs are low, and brighten if i rev the car; could it mean my alternator is dying? also, when i use my power windows, all the lights dim a little in the car as well, while its running..
@danieller4188
4 жыл бұрын
I know this question is very old but my car is doing the same thing right now. Was your alternator dying?
@mburton152
6 ай бұрын
I have to emphatically agree that you must check all the connections especially your grounds. Not just at the battery terminal but chase the cables back where they connect to the frame. I was about to send back a brand new alternator because the voltage readings were low sometimes, then fine later, mediocre still other times. In other words a nightmare to diagnose. Cleaned the battery terminals sure, but it was where the negative cable connected to the chassis with a rusted bolt from 15 years ago. Drilled out the hole, sandpapered the connector, put a new bolt in, and voila. the alternator works perfectly now.
@HennessyLane1
7 жыл бұрын
can you do a video on overcharging my 2007 ford five hundred randomly puts out 19.5v
@adelemartinez8235
4 жыл бұрын
That's what mine is doing. I've blown thru 2 brand new batteries and 2 regulators, in the same day! I have a 1990 Ford van. With a 5.8 liter engine. Someone told me today that I should sell it for parts. So frustrating.
@johnmurner2418
4 жыл бұрын
@@adelemartinez8235 have you fixed it?
@johnmurner2418
4 жыл бұрын
@@adelemartinez8235 have you fixed it?
@johnmurner2418
4 жыл бұрын
Have you fixed it?
@adelemartinez8235
4 жыл бұрын
@@johnmurner2418 no. I haven't. It sits outside still.
@padraiggalvin2807
9 жыл бұрын
Great video. It refreshes the small things a person may not think of. I hate those new smart charge systems where the charging is controlled by the ecu
@COOLESTDELLCAIN
8 жыл бұрын
My car won't start at all. The last time I got it started I noticed that the alternator wire was smoking. I believe this is the reason that my battery died. What can I do about this and could you give me a reason as to why this might be happening?
@hadath09
6 жыл бұрын
Hi Dell M, I have the same exact problem. Did you figure out what went wrong? Thanks. saadak@gmail.com.
@anthonyjones5334
5 жыл бұрын
Bbb industries is my goto for ALL my wiring diagrams and tsb info ! Thank you guys for that info and to eric for your guidance on many things!!!
@cward1954
3 жыл бұрын
They don't do those anymore.
@anthonyjones5334
3 жыл бұрын
@@cward1954 yeah I recently found that out its a bummer cause I loved that site. I wish they would give reasons why or where 1 can go to find them
@mr2cam
7 жыл бұрын
EricTheCarGuy you should do a separate video sometime checking A/C voltage coming from either the battery or alternator (or excessive ripple) that can be caused by a bad stater or diode in the alternator, or a bad battery.
@Crybabythi
9 жыл бұрын
Man I remember when I first saw eric the car guy and he only had like 40000 subscribers now he has half a million good job eric I knew you would blow up one day
@Scooter_built
4 жыл бұрын
AJduong333 how about now! Lol
@LarryWebb-gv8dz
10 ай бұрын
Thanks a bunch, I got a 2016 Nissan Maxima and the alternators output intermittently quits charging but then comes back leaving me stranded , super stressful given that super cold winter is approaching fast. I'll go test voltage drops for both sides positive and negative.
@chad61610
5 жыл бұрын
What about testing for voltage drop on the positive side of the system? I know you mentioned it but didn't show how to go about it. Did I miss it?
@mikebishop2406
3 жыл бұрын
Exactly. I thought I missed it too. No. I triple checked it. He did not show it.
@mikebishop2406
3 жыл бұрын
Image result for voltage drop test on positive battery cable Connect the meter positive lead to the clamp on the positive battery cable, and the meter negative lead to the end of the cable at the starter. Crank the engine and note the voltage reading. A good cable should have a voltage drop of 0.2 volts or less. Voltage Drop Testing - AA1Car This is what I found.
@דניאלכרמי-ל1ט
4 жыл бұрын
I love the way you simply explain it clearly...Great ..Wish you where here.And .I could bring my cars to you..Profasional man.
@GibsonGarage
5 жыл бұрын
My voltage needle bounces when I turn on my headlights I did the drop-down test and it seems fine, any ideas?
@glasser2819
4 жыл бұрын
replace your Serpentine tensioner + belt if above 80kMi
@thomaseaster5442
4 жыл бұрын
Check your ground on the small wire on the batt
@landcare-outdoorfun176
4 жыл бұрын
Thank you for sharing this video. I appreciate all of your hard work and time, in making these videos.
@bless849
4 жыл бұрын
Why is my alternator getting hot , I just replaced it and battery please someone help on this .
@skysnipe1
4 жыл бұрын
Belt slipping
@kennash5719
4 жыл бұрын
Probably because your alternator is now running at full output to charge up your run down battery When your battery is fully charged, the output from the alternator will drop down, and run cooler
@bless849
4 жыл бұрын
Alot of noise is coming from the alternator . a rattling type of sound.
@bless849
4 жыл бұрын
Thank you guys , for responding.
@robman2095
4 жыл бұрын
Fausto Garcia noise possibly from worn alternator bearing, which could also cause heating. So where did the alternator come from? New? Used? Reconditioned?
@jacquelinemanzano9328
Жыл бұрын
Thank you Eric for all the how to tips.
@southernfoods7302
2 жыл бұрын
Huge HELP. Thank you Eric!
@curtishouze1471
6 жыл бұрын
Once again another outstanding video. I will do some more troubleshooting on the Honda (battery and door light stays on until I rev up the engine to 2000-2500 rpm).
@bigshortstack2929
6 жыл бұрын
...Thanks to this video, I learned a new way of testing an alternator that I did not know before. THANK YOU. Now, why would you suggest changing the whole alternator instead of replacing the diode-based regulator inside?? Using a couple of paper clips to keep the brushes up away from the slip rings is no big deal. Soooo, why not just replace the regulator instead of the entire alternator? One can save a fair amount of MORE money this way.
@JodBronson
6 жыл бұрын
You can, just some People don't know how. But if you do, YES try to save $$$$. They also sell kits that you can replace most parts on your Alternators... But Time = $$$
@vonshango6311
4 жыл бұрын
2:10 DCV 20V red to pos, black to neg. 12.4 to 12.6 good, if higher it's surface charge. get rid of it with headlights on for 2min then wait 2min more before reading. 3:45 check alt by starting engine and run at 1500rpm and ideal if less than 15.5v (more is overcharging). 4:58 check alt belt tension, should be tight. 5:21 load test alternator: turn on everything electrical lights, wipers, radio, blowers. then we start car and anything .5v over 12.5v is good. 7:00 on many models, the voltage regulation is controlled by ECU so there could be a problem at ECU.
@cobretticobra7911
9 жыл бұрын
Hey Eric My alternator is making a rattling noise that seems to be in sync with flickering lights on the dash and head lamps just noticed the problem on my way home from work any ideas (2000) gmc 6 cylinder
@owentheboi9368
7 жыл бұрын
Smith Weson my 2002 MK triton is doing the same thing, don't know what the problem is. Did you diagnose the problem?
@validatedcustomer604
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the video, i couldn' get a reading when i tested for voltage drop betwen the positive battery terminal and positive post at alternator. Almost as if the leads weren't touching anything.
@AlabamaTree
7 жыл бұрын
I've got an old Mercedes truck with the voltage regulator on the back of it. Sometimes it's charging at 14.4 14.8 volts and then it's goes crazy and shoots up to 17.8 volts. Then it's goes back to normal. Is this likely to be more of an alternator problem than a regulator problem?
@HennessyLane1
7 жыл бұрын
AlabamaTree my ford five hundred shoots up to 19.5v into i take a cable off the battery restting the PCM
@dustinjohnson1952
6 жыл бұрын
Check battery connections battery acts as a capacitor and stabilizes the alternator output
@christinashoffner6973
6 жыл бұрын
ok K I zssssexwde1qwddw1 f t TV tecrwe3cerdrdrd3ffr3fffefeffcecferdr3d3erccrecr3cf rcecf3crf3ercceecffdc3rce carat my mom
@huertachf23
4 жыл бұрын
I fix my cars since 2000, when a mechanic charged me $200 for cleaning a spark plug that had a little bit of water and didn't make the car start, he spend 5 minutes to do it, I said to myself, no more payments to this kind of people, I need to learn how to fix my car!
@islandonlinenews
10 жыл бұрын
George Clooney?
@MrFreeze79
7 жыл бұрын
Those elvis sideburnz are a classic Eric, please grow them out again!
@bopitbull3957
2 жыл бұрын
True mechanic doing a video early in the morning before light birds chirping.
@johnrodriguez5302
7 жыл бұрын
hey Eric thanks for all the info I had an alternator problem not charging my battery when I was driving you could see the battery going down I bought a new alternator from auto z I exchanged it 3 times then they said they can't keep changing good alternator so the fourth one I keep feeling like its me . I had a check engine light on of shift solenoid electrical . this is what I have done I have a Dodge Ram 1500 5.2 L Van I put a multi meter on the battery to read dc 20 volts then I connected a wire with alligator clamps on both ends and put it on the alternator big red wire (b+ ) to the little (12 v input ) and it's charging my multi meter now reads 14.5 to 14.9 I heard a click and they spark when I connect them together so it's natural don't be scared I wanted to post this so people can try this oh yeah my check engine light went out I am happy now they keep telling me my battery was not holding a charge so I even bought a new one and did not fix problem so I fixed it on my own please keep helping us and pass this along I actually made a wire (a orange wire I had from an old door ) with a little washer to fit small screw (peeled the wire on each end long enough to twist the wire between washer and wire) and big washer on big 12 volt I have a black box one is ground one is ignition I think and the other is 12 v input look in your Haynes for your alternator wiring it should tell you I hope this helps everyone
@AngelsxTV
20 күн бұрын
I'm on my 3rd Alternator, I have a 2010 2.5 Jetta, I'm hoping its the main 200 amp fuse, Thanks for the Video
@bobkeeler5964
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the video. Can you show us what the POWER REGULATOR looks like and where it is on this motor?
@Jays22b
6 жыл бұрын
thanks for showing me how to test the ground circuit . I just copped a nasty ground voltage problem and a poor alternator to check but maybe the ground fault is hurting the alternator . cheers
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