battery / alternator problems?
Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:27 am
Been having some battery / alternator problems for some time, basically the battery is dead after about a week, even after driving the car daily. Thought it was the battery so went to buy a new battery and had my existing battery checked first, battery guy said the battery was fine must be the alternator.
Went and had my alternator reconditioned but not much improvement so decided to get a new battery anyway as my existing battery was fairly old. Put new battery in and battery guy tested with meter and said voltage was a bit low, i think your alternator is stufffed. Wasn't happy took the alternator back to be checked and the auto electrician said it was putting out correct volts and about 45 amps. With the new battery everything was going fine until recently when i needed to drive with lights and heater on etc now the battery is going flat in a couple of weeks.
Got myself a clamp meter and decided to do some measuring. Volts at the back of the alternator is 13.2 and at the battery terminal is about 13 with the car running. Without car running the battery is about 12.5. This to me seems to low, and ideas?
Put the clamp meter on the cable at the back of the alternator and only got 3.5 - 7 amps. This sems waayyyyyyyy too low or have I measured incorrectly?
Any help would be appreciated
Thanks
Went and had my alternator reconditioned but not much improvement so decided to get a new battery anyway as my existing battery was fairly old. Put new battery in and battery guy tested with meter and said voltage was a bit low, i think your alternator is stufffed. Wasn't happy took the alternator back to be checked and the auto electrician said it was putting out correct volts and about 45 amps. With the new battery everything was going fine until recently when i needed to drive with lights and heater on etc now the battery is going flat in a couple of weeks.
Got myself a clamp meter and decided to do some measuring. Volts at the back of the alternator is 13.2 and at the battery terminal is about 13 with the car running. Without car running the battery is about 12.5. This to me seems to low, and ideas?
Put the clamp meter on the cable at the back of the alternator and only got 3.5 - 7 amps. This sems waayyyyyyyy too low or have I measured incorrectly?
Any help would be appreciated
Thanks