/diy/ - Do It Yourself

>>1673153
Take it back. Faulty new electronic parts aren't common but they aren't unheard of, either. Also make sure it's the right one. O'Reilly's give me the wrong parts all the fucking time.

>>1673159
I'd rather not just blindly return it without knowing if it's really the problem.

I have a power drill to spin the alternator with and a multimeter to measure current, so where do I connect the wires and is there anything else I need to do to see if it works?

>>1673163

I'd say don't bother since it's a brand new one, the shop could just say you tampered with it if they notice it has been taken off. It's also posible that there is a problem with the bridge rectifier (and it happens to be a separate part on your particular car model), so the alternator replacement wouldn't have done anything.

>>1673153
If you start the car and disconnect the battery and it still runs the alternator is fine, if you reconnect the battery and it doesn't get charge or hold it for very long your battery is bad.

>>1673163
If you don't know any of this, how do you know it isn't producing proper current?

>>1673163
Just take it to a starter/alternator shop and get them to bench test it. Your little drill or lack of understanding of these things will only lead you astray. Believe me it's the easiest way to rule it out.

>>1673191
OP DO NOT DO THIS ON A CAR NEWER THAN 1990s

Most parts stores will bench test it for you for free

>>1673193
I don't know if it's producing proper current. That's why I'm asking how to test it.

>>1673233
Just install the damned thing. Change the battery, too, because it's probably weakened from the bad alternator. For fuck's sake, man.

Did they tension the serpentine belt properly? Had a shop change an alternator for me while I was in college. Burned out in two years, go to change it again, the bolts were only hand tight, vbelts was loose as hell.

>>1673224
This, ask Vatozone.

Or get a multimeter at least. Even more simple- pic related is $7 at HF.

>>1673153
>I'd rather not just blindly return it without knowing if it's really the problem.
AutoZone and Advance both test alternators on machines that spin the alternator and put a load on it.
O'Reilly's may do this too. I don't know about them.

Most auto parts stores will test them for you

>>1673191
Correct
>>1673218
Also correct

Jesus Christ OP, watch some YT videos. Is this the final most pathetic form of shitposting? Just asking stupid questions for attention instead of googling it?

>>1673191

again with this retarded meme. the car battery serves as a ground to many of the circuits that keep your car running. if you don't know why it's not a good idea to unground your car's electrical systems while they're running you shouldn't be giving advice on here.

to answer your question op, just take it to autozone.

>>1673153
This is the Otc tester tool I have for alternator health. Start the car and turn everything on ac radio etc Alt should be in the green. Make a good connection by jiggling the clamps on your battery post

Without an alternator test bench you'll never spin it hard enough to get it to excite and start charging.

>>1673218
Fuck off i just did it with an 09 ranger.

>>1673708
>Hasn't seen Kill Bill Vol. 2
>Doesn't know his truck now has 5 miles until it just dies on the side of the road

Shiggydiggy

>>1673736
>Making up gay and retarded scenes in movies you've never watched: the post.

Giggiddy

>>1673759
Just a joke Anon. Turned the 5 steps into 5 miles just to link them together for continuity's sake. I don't really think dude's truck is going to die. What makes you think I haven't seen the movie?

>>1673771
Because it never happened in the movie.

>>1673218
Its this guy im choked at.

>>1673153
Oh for fuck's sake, does no one know how to do even simple car repair anymore?

Install alternator. Put voltmeter on battery terminals. Should be about 13.8V with the engine running. If not, could be:
>bad alternator
>bad regulator (if not integral to alternator, in which case bad alternator)
>bad chassis ground somewhere
>bad connection between alternator and battery
>bad electrical connection elsewhere
simple.

>>1673773
I thought it did. Uma Thurman did the Pie Mei 5 point palm exploding heart thingy on him, he sat there and made up with her or whatever, then he took 5 steps, (hung himself while masturbating furiously, came) and keeled over, I thought. Maybe I'm thinking of the wrong Carradine. Anyway, I'm not that guy, so you have a good day Anon.

>>1673775
>Install alternator
Oh for fuck's sake, does no one know how to do even simply read anymore.

OP wants to test it out of the car.

>>1673819
He can take it to a parts store. Or just fucking put it in since it's a new alternator.

open it. check the stator for ground. check also the rectifier, use the diode function. it must be one way. check both slip ring, it should be open and no continuity using resistance (ohm).

>>1673775
>regulator
some fucking genius decided to put that into the computer on a lot of cars these days. it's also a direct connection without a fuse so when the alternator shits the bed it takes the computer with it. of course that means a simple $200 fix is now $1000+ and requires a trip to the dealer

>>1673153
This.>>1673191
The positive.
Been a mechanic for 30 years and never fucked up shit doing that.

But yeah. They can test shit for free at the parts store.

>>1673218
The meme is that shits going to happen

>>1674263
>Been a mechanic for 30 years and never fucked up shit doing that.

anyone who has looked at the requirements for automotive electronic devices knows that automotive shit is designed for that sort of event.

automotive electronics just might be the most robust shit we encounter daily.

>>1674336
It's not even that complicated. The neg terminal grounds to the frame anyway.

>>1673153

what kind of car OP? you probably got a piece of shit refurb/rebuilt alternator, some cars don't like CRAP (chinese rebuilt auto parts), so you may have to dump the money on an OEM (probably going to cost ~500$), but hey it'll save you a headache in the long run you arent going to have to keep replacing it every year because it goes to shit

>>1673153
1) Are all of your wiring connections good?

2) Is your battery good?

3) Is all of your wiring good?, i.e, no shorts or phantom power drains?

4) Have you made any recent /diy/ modifications to the electrical system?, ie, installed a stereo, after market accessory lights, etc.?

5) have you checked the specs on your system to know what the alternator should be reading? and did you test for that yourself with a good meter?

>>1673406
is this for real?
actually kind of a cool idea desu sampai

put multimeter on battery terminals and measure dc voltage. Should get 12-12.6V reading. Start car. Should get 13 or 14 or something. Indicating a charge is getting into the battery. Surprised no one posted this yet.

>>1675275
already been said here>>1674833
and here >>1673406

>>1675279
Those make mention of testing but dont go into detail so at least Im not the asshole that reiterated something still. I assume whoever posted would need instructions.

>>1675283
Various ways of testing have been posted. OP, however, seems adamant that he wants to test it outside of the car because...reasons.

>>1675390
well, that's fine and all. but until he tests it while its installed he still wont know if it works in the system like it should

>>1673153
Take it out and bring it to advanced Auto or auto zone

>>1675283
ya done fine, pepe.
here, have a hug

>>1675397
leave /diy/

>>1675397
ky - it's a form of /diy/

>>1675401
>>1675409
you seem to be upset

>>1673153
Many auto stores test alternators for free. Bring yours there.

>>1675275
12 is a dead battery. 12.6 or more is ok resting voltage if charged.

>>1673153
Might be your battery OP. A failing alternator will not properly charge a battery. Over time this will damage the battery. Was proud as fuck when I diagnosed and changed my father's alternator. A week later shit is fucked again. Check battery, won't do 12V+. Call AAA to come change battery because for some reason them coming to my home and doing all the work is cheaper than hauling the old battery to a parts store and putting it in myself. AAA guy tests things, notices new alternator, says mechanic should have told you battery was probably bad too.

Multimeter, check voltage and amps. The Mexican way, turn on, take a wrench put close and feel magnetic charge. If strong copper wiring is in good condition, if not strong copper wiring is burnt. If new it's faulty wiring.