# 2002 Saab 9-5- Battery or alternator?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-saab-9-5-battery-or-alternator/162158>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** saab\
**Created:** [March 30, 2020, 10:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-saab-9-5-battery-or-alternator/162158 "2020-03-30T22:22:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![WayneCWallace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f05b48/32.png) [@WayneCWallace](https://community.cartalk.com/u/WayneCWallace)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 10:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-saab-9-5-battery-or-alternator/162158/1 "2020-03-30T22:22:17Z")

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Alternator 13.87 battery charge. Do i need new battery or alternator?

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2020, 5:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-saab-9-5-battery-or-alternator/162158/2 "2020-03-31T17:40:15Z")

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That’s normal output for an alternator.

So it’s not the alternator.

Tester

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**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2020, 5:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-saab-9-5-battery-or-alternator/162158/3 "2020-03-31T17:45:25Z")

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How old is the battery? I’d charge it and have it tested.

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**Author:** ![Honda-Blackbird](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/honda-blackbird/32/3159_2.png) [@Honda-Blackbird](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Honda-Blackbird)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2020, 5:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-saab-9-5-battery-or-alternator/162158/4 "2020-03-31T17:55:25Z")

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The Alt output is fine… make it try to charge a dying batt long enough… and it wont be.

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**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2020, 6:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-saab-9-5-battery-or-alternator/162158/5 "2020-03-31T18:22:49Z")

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> [@Honda\_Blackbird](#):
>
> The Alt output is fine… make it try to charge a dying batt long enough… and it wont be.

+1  
Right now, the OP just needs a new battery. But, the longer that he allows his alternator to work overtime trying to charge the old battery, the greater the likelihood that he will also need to replace the alternator.