# Alternator, bad? Definitive test? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** dodge, ram50\ **Created:** [October 26, 2016, 8:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-bad-definitive-test/96256 "2016-10-26T20:15:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ChristopherASA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@ChristopherASA](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChristopherASA)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 7:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-bad-definitive-test/96256/41 "2016-10-29T19:35:13Z")
Just installed a replacement battery. [Yipeeeee!] In a bit I’m going to run thru your 3-step procedure. I just want to note that I do not have a “shop” volt meter: the closest one is 55 miles distant. I’m using a little Radio Shack multi-meter. I hope that doesn’t present a significant problem. ? ---
**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:** [October 29, 2016, 7:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-bad-definitive-test/96256/42 "2016-10-29T19:37:20Z")
Nope! Just set it to read DC voltage, and set the range to 20 VDC. Tester ---
**Author:** ![ChristopherASA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@ChristopherASA](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChristopherASA)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 7:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-bad-definitive-test/96256/43 "2016-10-29T19:38:39Z")
Excellent. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![ChristopherASA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@ChristopherASA](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChristopherASA)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 8:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-bad-definitive-test/96256/44 "2016-10-29T20:46:21Z")
First test: 12.68 Second test: 12.73 Third test: 13.48 What sayest thou? (And I do **really** appreciate the help you’ve given me, sir.) ---
**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:** [October 29, 2016, 8:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-bad-definitive-test/96256/45 "2016-10-29T20:48:39Z")
Those readings show a good battery and an operating charging system. Tester ---
**Author:** ![ChristopherASA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@ChristopherASA](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChristopherASA)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 8:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-bad-definitive-test/96256/46 "2016-10-29T20:57:13Z")
Thank you very, very, very, VERY much. If you ever find yourself ever passing Desert Center, Ca., on HWY 10, I would be excruciatingly happy to buy you a java or brewski at our miniature local market. **Not kidding** , sir. Christopher A. Steele, at your service. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 9:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-bad-definitive-test/96256/47 "2016-10-29T21:26:44Z")
I don’t think you should post your private email address for all to see I suggest you edit your post and delete the email address If you have something private to say, click on the person’s user id and send them a private message, which the rest of us won’t see ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 9:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-bad-definitive-test/96256/48 "2016-10-29T21:29:31Z")
This is a second warning! Edit your post and remove your email address. This is an open web site and our monitors agree that you should not post private info. ---
**Author:** ![ChristopherASA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@ChristopherASA](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChristopherASA)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 10:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-bad-definitive-test/96256/49 "2016-10-29T22:35:20Z")
OK. Sorry. Didn’t know. I will endeavor to do so. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![ChristopherASA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@ChristopherASA](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChristopherASA)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 10:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-bad-definitive-test/96256/50 "2016-10-29T22:43:55Z")
I believe I entered my eMail only once, which I have deleted. If I am mistaken and entered it more than once, please feel free to delete any other post of mine with my eMail. FYI, if I was supposed to have received an _initial_ eMail to me citing the 'infraction" for a first time, I did not. I only received the _second_ telling me about “…a second warning.” Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 10:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-bad-definitive-test/96256/51 "2016-10-29T22:45:29Z")
Might be too late. NSA already has it and could show up on Wikileaks. Russians? Hilarious. It’s our own people. Remember the story about the porter at the airport that got reamed out by that nasty lady? ---
**Author:** ![ChristopherASA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@ChristopherASA](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChristopherASA)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 11:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-bad-definitive-test/96256/52 "2016-10-29T23:17:16Z")
Ironic. I worked for the Agency for a few years, both “in the field” and in the main building at Ft. Meade, Md. (The Agency … well, they would have no concern about including an eMail address in a post such as I made here, but I guess “rules” are rules. 🙂 Also had a brother the worked for NSA, as did my Dad (and a sister-in-law). Must be some kind of a record. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 11:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-bad-definitive-test/96256/53 "2016-10-29T23:18:59Z")
Those numbers look good when starting with a fully charged battery, which presume it is, since it’s new. But a new battery doesn’t put much load on the alternator. To verify the alternator is 100% up to the challenge, drive the vehicle a few days in your normal manner; then first start of the day do the experiment again. On the second test – right after starting the vehicle, with the engine running — try turning on the headlights to bright and the rear window defroster too. That should put close to a maximum load on the alternator & boost the alternator output voltage. ---
**Author:** ![ChristopherASA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@ChristopherASA](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChristopherASA)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 11:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-bad-definitive-test/96256/54 "2016-10-29T23:20:31Z")
Brand new batter. Appreciate the added info/test. Will do and will report back. THANKS. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 11:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-bad-definitive-test/96256/55 "2016-10-29T23:21:57Z")
Your Radio Shack volt meter is perfectly accurate to use for this test. I can one-up you in fact. I use a free one they gave me at Harbor Freight! ---
**Author:** ![ChristopherASA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@ChristopherASA](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChristopherASA)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 11:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-bad-definitive-test/96256/56 "2016-10-29T23:22:54Z")
Harbor Freight! Whoa! Lowwww standards. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kurtwm1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/13edae/32.png) [@kurtwm1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kurtwm1)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 5:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-bad-definitive-test/96256/57 "2016-10-30T05:39:32Z")
Editing out text is useless because anyone can simply click on the “edit” icon and see the original post. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 5:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-bad-definitive-test/96256/58 "2016-10-30T05:42:29Z")
Of course you have a point But I’m NOT going to say it’s a good idea to post your personal email address on a website visited by a bunch of strangers If anything, he’ll think twice about doing it again, in the future, perhaps on some other website So my comment was useful Maybe Carolyn will see the comment and delete the guy’s email address 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 6:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-bad-definitive-test/96256/59 "2016-10-30T06:27:02Z")
Listing your Email address is not a message board violation. Volvo\_V70 is not a moderator, he only pretends to be one. The former message board (before July 2016) had a place to display your email address in your profile, this one does not. The edit details will disappear after 24 hours. ---
**Author:** ![ChristopherASA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@ChristopherASA](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChristopherASA)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 3:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-bad-definitive-test/96256/60 "2016-10-30T15:25:53Z")
I know this is going to sound a bit sophomoric, or anal, but the only place to drive to in this dead “town” is the local market, a 6-mile round trip that I do once a day. Can you quantify a bit, please, the extent that I need to drive the truck over the course of a few days, please, in time driven or miles driven or whatever you feel is appropriate so that the next test phase will be “valid”? **_Thanks_** , GeorgeSanJose! [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-bad-definitive-test/96256.md?page=2) [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-bad-definitive-test/96256.md?page=4)