What should I do if my alternator wont charge?
Be careful to avoid getting caught by the alternator belt! With the engine running, there should be voltage across the terminals. Turn on the headlights to put some load on the battery, the voltage on the field coil should rise slightly. If you don’t see voltage on the field coil terminals, you might have a blown fuse.
Why is the alternator on my Jeep not charging?
Looks like the field coil of the alternator isn’t getting power. There are 3 wires attached to the alternator. One is a big fat wire that goes to the battery, this is the alternator output. The other two wires feed power to the field coil.
Where are the fuses on a jeep alternator?
If you don’t see voltage on the field coil terminals, you might have a blown fuse. The field coil is powered by a box called Powertrain Control Module, and there are 3 fuses that might be of interest, numbered 6, 19, and 26 according to the schematic (see below).
How can I tell if my alternator is bad?
You can check if the field coil is powered by connecting a multimeter to the terminals of the field coil, and starting the engine. Be careful to avoid getting caught by the alternator belt! With the engine running, there should be voltage across the terminals.
How much does it cost to repair alternator on Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Jeep Grand Cherokee Alternator Repair costs $448 on average. How does an alternator help your car run? The alternator is the component that charges the battery in your car. When you use electrical components in your car (stereo, lights, etc.), the battery loses power.
What to do if your alternator is bad in your Jeep?
The symptoms of a bad alternator can look similar to those of a bad battery, but there’s one test that always works. First, be sure you wear eye and hand protection, then with your Jeep engine running, remove the negative cable from the battery. If the engine stalls, your alternator is most definitely the issue.
Where is the alternator located in a car?
The alternator is the component that charges the battery in your car. When you use electrical components in your car (stereo, lights, etc.), the battery loses power. The alternator recharges the battery, replenishing the lost battery power. The alternator is located in the engine compartment.
What should a mechanic do before replacing an alternator?
The mechanic should check the entire charging system before installing a new alternator, including checking battery cables for corrosion and the condition of the battery. Inspect entire charging system (battery, cables, alternator). Inspect the drive belts. Test alternator output. Remove and replace alternator if found to be faulty.
Can a bad alternator cause a bad PCM?
If these are all good, then you need to check the wiring between the PCM and the alternator, or the PCM itself may have a problem. Another possibility is a bad Battery Temperature Sensor.
Is the alternator the only thing that powers the car?
Many people assume that the car’s battery is the only thing that powers all electrical components in the car. But, this is not true. The alternator plays a vital role in supplying power to the car’s AC, recharging the battery and ignition.
What does it mean when your alternator is not charging?
If the alternator is not charging the battery, you will have a red “ALT” or “charge” sign on your dashboard. This means that your battery is no longer being supplemented for power by the alternator. You will need to recheck the wiring because the light could also be faulty.
Can a car battery be drained by an alternator?
While you might initially think that any problems with electrical things like lights or radio not working are directly related to the battery, the alternator is actually where most of the power in your vehicle comes from. Consider that if you were to leave the lights of your car on overnight by the next day your battery might be drained completely.
Many people assume that the car’s battery is the only thing that powers all electrical components in the car. But, this is not true. The alternator plays a vital role in supplying power to the car’s AC, recharging the battery and ignition.
Why does my alternator get higher than base voltage?
You should get 0.5 to 2 volts higher than base voltage. If you are getting more than 2 volts above base voltage, most likely your alternator is over-charging the battery or the battery is faulty. Other potential problems are a faulty voltage regulator or a problem in the charging system wiring.