How To Check If An Alternator Is Charging?

[kate205gti 4]

is there anywhere i can stick my multimeter to check if the alternator is charging the battery on my 8v 205 please? was fine starting up until after its MOT now the battery is too flat to start the car once the key is switched off

 

going to get a new battery but any way to check if its the alternator at fault? other than drive around on the new battery till it goes flat and i get stuck somewhere

 

cheers

[hcmini1989 16]

is there anywhere i can stick my multimeter to check if the alternator is charging the battery on my 8v 205 please? was fine starting up until after its MOT now the battery is too flat to start the car once the key is switched off

 

going to get a new battery but any way to check if its the alternator at fault? other than drive around on the new battery till it goes flat and i get stuck somewhere

 

cheers

tried a search?.There should be load on this .Anyways yes there is set it to dc volts (dont mean to sound like a c**t here) thats the straight line with the breaks in it not the wavy line and put it on shouldnt realy matter wich way you stick it on the battery you`ll get a reading .So get it running and check it before you buy a battery should read around 14 volts when running and if it does`nt then it could be your alternator at fault instead of your battery

Edited June 19, 2010 by hcmini1989

[kate205gti 4]

i searched for "alternator charging" and didnt get very far the battery was 11.75 earlier have put it on charge but if the battery doesnt hold a charge then surely it will drop anyway? nowhere on the actual alternator to check?

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

Across Batt terminals with the DVM on DC Volts low range if it has it or Auto Range, Should see a voltage of around 13.5 volt's, Any less than 12.5 then the Alt's shot,

[hcmini1989 16]

i searched for "alternator charging" and didnt get very far the battery was 11.75 earlier have put it on charge but if the battery doesnt hold a charge then surely it will drop anyway? nowhere on the actual alternator to check?

http://www.2carpros.com/how_to/how_to_test_alternator.htm

 

that should show you how to do it .One thing to remember when ever testing a battery aswell is discharge it .If it has been stood for abit a day or so just put the lights on or something .Because you will get a ghost voltage it will seem higher than what it is if its been stood so a quick drain by the lights or wipers etc etc will get rid of that and give you a true reading

 

hope this helps

Edited June 19, 2010 by hcmini1989