Been working on vehicles for over 30 years, you are spot on with these in vehicle alternator checks. One step that is essential on older vehicles is the battery cable test. The reason is a lot of older vehicles get corrosion in the cables and create a lot of resistance to the point that it makes for a hard start. If you have a fully charged battery, have a known good starter and the Alternator is showing a good 13.5v or above and you have a hard start, do the same battery cable check on the starter instead of the Alternator. If you have a more than a few volts showing on the meter you have a bad, most likely internally corroded cable. Dodge, Plymouth and Chrysler mini vans are notorious for corroded positive and negative cables low on the drivers side. Another indicator of corroded cables, and a good reason to test them, is if the positive battery cable gets really hot and you know the connections are clean. Thanks for sharing, spot on! Thumbs UP! Best Wishes & Blessings. Keith Noneya
Dude, you rock. Thank you. Going to do this now. I had my battery light turn on 2 days ago and gauge drop to about 10v on the dash. It still starts up good the past two days. But flickers sometimes. AC is acting up too. Hope its either a loose connection or if need to, replace alt or battery. Really need my AC working strong as it has, especially here in TX when its over 100*.
@@KITS_Auto_and_Truck_Repair I'm getting over 0.5v on the wire from the battery to the alternator. While running, had the red on Batt + and black lead on the B+ on alt. Is that a bad wire?
What is the problem if did a voltage drop test and it reads 0.22 and when I start the truck it doesn’t read over 12.6 volts and I have a brand new alternator
I have a 2001 7.3 diesel and my gauge drops and monitor reads like it’s not charging and I tested the pigtail that plugs in back and wasn’t reading 12 volts I didn’t do the resistance test between the positive or negative yet it’s dark now and cold I took a new alternator back to store and had them swap it out bc it wasn’t charging and then the one I swapped out isn’t charging either
@@KITS_Auto_and_Truck_Repair how do you do that I have couple vids saved that show things how to and all that I’m goin to check some things out here soon once up
@@stevenmcc2119 on this video I showed how to do a voltage drop test... follow the steps with a voltmeter and you should be able to do that, or have someone look at it for you...Good luck
alsteven44 thanks! you can check the diode of the alternator by checking how much AC voltage the alternator is putting out!!! the spec is 0.5 ac voltage for most applications
@@KITS_Auto_and_Truck_Repair when I put my multymeter to the negative cable on alternator case and the positive cable on negative battery I get a reading of 0.00 what am I doing wrong? Remember my truck has 2 batteries
Been working on vehicles for over 30 years, you are spot on with these in vehicle alternator checks. One step that is essential on older vehicles is the battery cable test. The reason is a lot of older vehicles get corrosion in the cables and create a lot of resistance to the point that it makes for a hard start. If you have a fully charged battery, have a known good starter and the Alternator is showing a good 13.5v or above and you have a hard start, do the same battery cable check on the starter instead of the Alternator. If you have a more than a few volts showing on the meter you have a bad, most likely internally corroded cable. Dodge, Plymouth and Chrysler mini vans are notorious for corroded positive and negative cables low on the drivers side. Another indicator of corroded cables, and a good reason to test them, is if the positive battery cable gets really hot and you know the connections are clean. Thanks for sharing, spot on! Thumbs UP! Best Wishes & Blessings. Keith Noneya
Keith Noneya My Pleasure!! and thanks for your input, I appreciate it
Great video! I loved all the visual demonstrations along with the simple explanations. You're great!!
@Mike_In_Idaho Thanks!
Great video, simple explanation, and you showed everything you did. And clear voice. Thanks!
@Auriam My Pleasure!
Dude, you rock. Thank you. Going to do this now. I had my battery light turn on 2 days ago and gauge drop to about 10v on the dash. It still starts up good the past two days. But flickers sometimes. AC is acting up too. Hope its either a loose connection or if need to, replace alt or battery. Really need my AC working strong as it has, especially here in TX when its over 100*.
DCP Thanks! Good Luck with your project!
@@KITS_Auto_and_Truck_Repair I'm getting over 0.5v on the wire from the battery to the alternator. While running, had the red on Batt + and black lead on the B+ on alt. Is that a bad wire?
@@dcp4988 yes or a corroded connection!
Great job. Good way with words, good English too.
drrjim thank you!!!
Good video explaining the basics in a way the average person could understand 👍
Bahn Fahn Goo Thank you!!
Excellent description, thank you.
@jeremymiller7826 My Pleasure!
I was looking at testing the small wires in the plug.
@rickr2336 you can do it!
What is the problem if did a voltage drop test and it reads 0.22 and when I start the truck it doesn’t read over 12.6 volts and I have a brand new alternator
@kendrickgreen4128 you have high resistance in the wiring!
Very good video. Nice and slow and very thorough.
@earlnoelker8462 Thank you!
Very good very clear and helpful, to the point and easy to understand 🤙
@davidchase7296 Thank you!
Great video. How does this change in my 2006 F-250 diesel dual battery system? Are the steps the same but performed on both batteries?
Jay Fetterman Yes!! Same process!!
Great job explaining
@creed7179 Thank you!
So whats the likely issues when you get 11.98 volts, only, running?? 12 volts while off, both at battery and alternator. 1997 F250 HD 5.8l 4spd auto
@bryancarosi2386 check your Alternator wiring, if the wiring is good, then the Alternator is defective
Good Stuff,Great Tips😄👍🏿 2016 F250 6.2L
darryl m Thank you!
I have a 2001 7.3 diesel and my gauge drops and monitor reads like it’s not charging and I tested the pigtail that plugs in back and wasn’t reading 12 volts I didn’t do the resistance test between the positive or negative yet it’s dark now and cold I took a new alternator back to store and had them swap it out bc it wasn’t charging and then the one I swapped out isn’t charging either
Steven Mcc you need to check the wiring, do a voltage drop test on the wires...
@@KITS_Auto_and_Truck_Repair how do you do that I have couple vids saved that show things how to and all that I’m goin to check some things out here soon once up
@@stevenmcc2119 on this video I showed how to do a voltage drop test... follow the steps with a voltmeter and you should be able to do that, or have someone look at it for you...Good luck
I think I found out that a fusible link got fried
@@stevenmcc2119 that's good, I'm glad you figured it out!
You do great on these videos
Jeff Dunn Thank you!!
So of the two batteries I should use the passenger side battery to check alternator like this!
@nolancutler1881 You should use the battery that has the Alternator main Power wire on it!
So if you have high resistance, does that mean the alternator is bad
@jamesmorris8685 No!
Very Good explanation K, but how do you check if the alternator diode is bad
alsteven44 thanks! you can check the diode of the alternator by checking how much AC voltage the alternator is putting out!!! the spec is 0.5 ac voltage for most applications
Great explanation! Thank you.
Lord Vader My Pleasure!!
hi i have 97 dodge ram 2500 diesel and it has 2 batterys on each side how do i checked my alternator with those 2 batterys
Luna 40 same process, if it has a 12 volts alternator there will be one wire that goes from the alternator to one of the batteries!
@@KITS_Auto_and_Truck_Repair ok thx
@@KITS_Auto_and_Truck_Repair when I put my multymeter to the negative cable on alternator case and the positive cable on negative battery I get a reading of 0.00 what am I doing wrong? Remember my truck has 2 batteries
@@Luna-dt1nt My Pleasure!
@@Luna-dt1nt Are you doing it with the car running? remember positive to positive and negative to negative!
Great explanation. straight forward and easy. Thanks.
Scott C My Pleasure!!
Excellent explanation
Lea Ann McCammon Thank you!
Very good my friend ..
Ritchie Aguilar Thank you!!
🎉🙏👏👏👏👌 excellent info well explained
@10via2 Thank you!
Awesome 👏🏻 awesome video brotha
You helped me 💯% diagnos my problems and perfectly explained on how battery alternator operates 👍🏼
Justin Hebert Thank you!!
Very helpful. Thank you.
Shane Van My Pleasure!!
Great video, thank you
Taylor Ledford My Pleasure!!
Hello Mr. George?
Emmanuel Bagume Hello! my name is Deo!
How much you pay.. to much
nice
@michaelcarman-yv9tm Thanks!
👍
Cloverlone Broodmare Farm Thanks!
1 problem...if weak charge, that doesn't necessarily mean alternator is bad. There's a bit more to it Than that bad
John Walker I covered the basics on this video!! these tests can give you a good indication of where your problem might be in the charging system!!
Great job thanks
1st Last My Pleasure!!
great video.
RGS RESCUE Thank you!!!
Way to much commentary
@duaneadkins7410 Yeah!!