How do I know if my alternator or VOLTAGE REGULATOR is bad?
Symptoms of a bad voltage regulator may include:
- High voltage output.
- Low voltage output, sometimes.
- No voltage output.
- Lights dim or flicker.
- Faulty high-beam headlamp bulbs.
- Engine working erratically (weak or flickering ignition system)
- Adding water to the battery frequently.
Does an alternator have a VOLTAGE REGULATOR?
The alternator is a generator that produces Alternating Current (AC), similar to the electrical current in your home. A VOLTAGE REGULATOR regulates the charging voltage that the alternator produces, keeping it between 13.5 and 14.5 volts to protect the electrical components throughout the vehicle.
How to know if your alternator voltage regulator is faulty?
1 When the voltage regulator is bypassed, you should see maximum voltage output. 2 If voltage output remains at a normal level, most likely the voltage regulator is faulty. 3 If voltage output remains at the same level (low, for example) as in your initial test (Section II, step 6), most likely you have a faulty alternator.
What should the charge voltage be on an alternator?
In that case, start the engine and carefully backprobe P. Stator voltage on a healthy alternator is one-half charging voltage, plus or minus about .50 volt. Therefore, if voltage at BAT is 14.00, P should be 7.00 volts or extremely close to it.
Is there a way to bypass the voltage regulator?
There could be several ways to bypass the voltage regulator, depending on the charging system configuration for your particular vehicle model. If the rear of your alternator has a ‘test tab’, you need to short this tab to the alternator frame using a screwdriver while checking voltage output at the battery with the engine running.
Can a bad voltage regulator be a good thing?
When your test shows a steady or intermittent high or low voltage output, the voltage regulator is possibly bad. Most voltage regulators fail by allowing a high voltage output, though. However, before going any further, check that all the connections to the alternator and battery are good and clean as described in the next section. 1.