battery/electrical help please?

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JAK6 - 10 Nov 2005 03:01 GMT

probably a silly question for you guys, but trying to learn so I reduce the
chances of being taken to the cleaners at repair shops/dealers. Driving
along when I noticed the battery warning light on. The charge gge is all
of the sudden down to the red. Hadn't noticed gage dropping over time.
Is this a charging problem, ie-alternator? Before I go and get a new
alternator, I will go buy a voltmeter to check the alternator myself. How
do I check this, and what voltage should I look for in a healthy or bad
alternator? Thanks

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Mike Romain - 10 Nov 2005 16:06 GMT

I would first check to see if I still had a fan belt....

That said, a good alternator will put out about 14.5 +/- .5 volts when
running. You take this off the main wire on the alternator back and the
alternator case. You then check the battery posts. The reading must be
the same or you have a bad connection between them.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
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> probably a silly question for you guys, but trying to learn so I reduce the
> chances of being taken to the cleaners at repair shops/dealers. Driving
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> do I check this, and what voltage should I look for in a healthy or bad
> alternator? Thanks

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