# Maybe an alternator?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/maybe-an-alternator/158080>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** outback, subaru\
**Created:** [February 8, 2020, 1:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/maybe-an-alternator/158080 "2020-02-08T01:51:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dannoflynn\_163057](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dannoflynn\_163057](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dannoflynn_163057)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2020, 1:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/maybe-an-alternator/158080/1 "2020-02-08T01:51:36Z")

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My 2011 outback has been doing some odd things. It has been losing power starting from a stop (manual transmission) and sometimes idling dangerously close to stalling when coming to a stop. The lights have seemed a bit dim and every now and then it throws just about every warning on the dashboard (parking brake, traction control, check engine, cruise control flashing.) The battery is only a few months old, and I replaced the spark plugs a month ago thinking it might be a misfire causing the issue, but to no avail. Could it be the alternator? Am I barking up the wrong tree?

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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:** [February 8, 2020, 1:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/maybe-an-alternator/158080/2 "2020-02-08T01:54:15Z")

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Those are the symptoms of a bad alternator.

But the charging system should be tested to make sure.

Tester

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**Author:** ![dannoflynn\_163057](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dannoflynn\_163057](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dannoflynn_163057)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2020, 1:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/maybe-an-alternator/158080/3 "2020-02-08T01:56:31Z")

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Thanks! Does that just consist of throwing a multimeter on the battery and seeing if I’m within range, or is there something else I should be doing?

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**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:** [February 8, 2020, 1:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/maybe-an-alternator/158080/4 "2020-02-08T01:58:00Z")

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If you are in the US most Auto Zone stores will check the battery and alternator for free .

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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:** [February 8, 2020, 2:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/maybe-an-alternator/158080/5 "2020-02-08T02:00:17Z")

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Yep.

Start the engine and connect a multimeter between the battery posts, and the meter should read 13.3 - 14.5 volts DC.

Tester

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**Author:** ![dannoflynn\_163057](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dannoflynn\_163057](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dannoflynn_163057)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2020, 2:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/maybe-an-alternator/158080/6 "2020-02-08T02:01:34Z")

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Awesome, thank you!