How to tell if your alternator is bad or the battery

[@lanewantstorip]

I always just put a screw driver on the back of the alternator while it’s running and if it magnets to the back it’s charging

[@elzacatecano5096]

It does that really works?

[@prizory1101]

​@elzacatecano5096 ill find out and let you know

[@solidshadownomad7936]

@@elzacatecano5096 yup

[@Omegazstar]

wtf I’m about to go try this. Thanks!

[@rodneyadamson8270]

I learned that from a old guy when I was 13, no magnetization no charge

[@jabroski69]

Those old school jumper cables are some bad mofo can really handle a lot of amperage wished I could find a good set like that all I seem to get is weak flimsy trash. Those jumper cables will bite into the lead and get a good connection even thru corrosion

[@juanrios258]

Good explanation brother, straight to the point thank you

[@budwhite9591]

True. But I don’t want my car to die on me in the middle of July heat with my daughters. I should have gotten my alternator checked, autozone, advance, and O’Rileys will do it on the vehicle. A week later after I first noticed low voltage on a year old battery I ignored it when it went back to normal. Bringing my daughter home from my parents, halfway back I got a “check charging system” alarm I had never seen, and the car was dying from that moment on and only took 15 minutes to die. Only 2 miles from home when the car completely died. I believe the alternator failed in a way that sent unregulated power to the battery and fried it as well. Because when both were tested at the above mentioned the alternator tested bad and the battery was not even reading.

[@glennbeadshaw727]

If you can get the vehicle running disconnect your jumper cables and then disconnect the negative terminal of the battery and if the car dies then you have a bad alternator

[@metzmatu8409]

On new morden with electronics Don't disconnect battery cable while the car engine is running. Some electrinic parts can go bad if you do that.

[@Afuw41]

@@metzmatu8409what years would that be when you say new modern . ?? Roughly

[@kelleycondon6504]

ALSO you should also always keep clean terminals and posts wire brushes and wire pipe cleaners are simplest but they also make that wire tool thing (different versions) and battery connection spray. Help jump a lady's car one time who said that she kept having the same problem and sure enough as soon as I tried to attach the cable the terminal lifted off the post and it was clear that she just had a really loose cable so yeah start with the simple stuff first obviously

[@AllenManor]

Better yet, get a cheap multimeter (Harbor Freight has one for about $7) and test the battery while the car is running. Lots of KZbin videos on how to do this, it's very simple, anyone can do it.

[@liamthompson7155]

Or get something like a FIXD obd-2 sensor for like $30 and then you can check battery voltage, check engine lights etc through Bluetooth on your phone

[@melan8edgoddess251]

Hey! Autozone checked my battery with one of those and whatever else they used, they told me my battery, alternator and starter were all good, yet I have had to get my car jumped three times in the past two weeks…any clue what that could mean?

[@AllenManor]

@@melan8edgoddess251 If everything checked out, some sort of small battery drain is probably going on. A mechanic can probably diagnose it quickly for you.

[@jjoworld]

​@liamthompson7155 multimeter is better to check battery and alternator

[@Afuw41]

@@melan8edgoddess251Autozone sucks and all the workers don’t know shit

[@ChapterONE-xl8zq]

Currently on the side of the road, re did my connections and waiting for my jump to get here, hope it works

[@quicks902]

How’d it go

[@Leo6969]

?

[@lazzixx]

still stranded

[@grod374]

​@@lazzixx😢😂😅

[@mr.crunk4148]

I have a 2012 Hyundai sante lights are blinking us it a bad alternator or starter need advice

[@VictorArgeniss]

What was it? Cuz i have a 2010 Hyundai and same problem.

[@Jodyrides]

I could be wrong, but I remember when cars had generators, and would run without a battery in the car off of the generator. I still have a car that I have owned for decades -it has a generator - a 1958 mga English car I was 16 when I got this car - 1968- I was working after school- weekends- summers in the local service station on cars, I don’t know if it’s true, but I remember hearing that if you run a car with an alternator and you disconnect the battery while the car is running, that will damage the alternator .. Maybe alternators are different, maybe that is not true - but I do remember being cautioned not to disconnect the battery of a car with an alternator while the car is running…

[@frankortolano5886]

Good advice

[@xzqzq]

I let my 1993 F-150 6 cyl stick sit for 2 yrs. Battery would not take a charge : removed it & jumped truck from my Mini. Truck started / ran, but died when jumper cable removed, rather than continue running off alternator, as I expected. Bad alternator ?

[@hyperpotato1197]

Likely

[@justindaniels17]

Bust out the multimeter and check voltage after disconnecting jumper cables it should 13.6-14.4V

[@xzqzq]

Thanks !!

[@stoner4]

Put your multimeter pos.on the red stud on the alternator,your neg lead on the housing of the alternator which is ground or the car chassis. It should show 14.v. if it shows 9v it's bad. My 95 fird escort did this very reliable car ,,also my 83 chevy blazer reliable ,, I also have a 96 ford explorer I tried disconnecting my battery neg ,on that it stayed running. Changed out my escort alternator it runs great now.

[@xzqzq]

Thanks for the info !!

[@HannanPiver]

Al ways check your fuses. Before remove alternator. ( Connection s fuses and take the alternator to test. Before you buy another one ) Same whit the battery

[@zoesunshine2646]

My truck takes a charge and runs, but won't restart after turning off. Battery or alternator?

[@DominiAeternum]

That sounds like battery

[@52095Antonio]

Did you ever figure it out?

[@LcFilmandProductions]

Bad battery 100%

[@duhrealtay9]

Yes battery also check your positive connection wires to the battery might be short or torn

[@TheEsquirePodcast]

what would i do for a 327 chevelle motor?

[@budwhite9591]

Buy a Ford

[@baconbities]

My alternator started smoking

[@ShakaShinePressureWashing]

Weed or tobacco?

[@davidsalinas9]

​@@ShakaShinePressureWashingcrack

[@Folskyfied]

​@@ShakaShinePressureWashing petrol

[@Suave24k]

Same I had my ac on

[@lenney872]

Switch it to vape, easier to quit that way

[@JamesBailey-d5o]

That's nice to know thank you

[@CNSTAdventures]

2016 gmc sierra and in the service manual it say DO NOT under any circumstances do that ! It will fry stuff

[@antoniotutt4894]

We used to just disconnect the negative cable. If it stopped, you've got a bad alternator.

[@isaaccarlson7109]

my truck blows luke warm air out of the AC, and it has trouble starting currently. It also has a rough idle, do you think that could be an alternator issue?

[@sonnysantos62]

Regarding your A/C you might have to recharge your a/c and if that doesn’t work, your a/c alternator is probably faulty.

[@willhorting5317]

😂

[@thensr2011]

I didn't try that. Gonna try that after I get my battery charged.

[@stasbakanov7191]

Don’t ever disconnect batteries while vihicle is running. Battery your alternator can spike up damaging many critical and passive electronics that will send you on goose chase for long long frustrating time

[@jenkathefridge3933]

I heard it also makes you turn into Frankenstein

[@bryancarey9746]

Thanks ✌️

[@badnews4Lyfe]

Will that happen if your battery is bad?

[@badnews4Lyfe]

Removing the jumping cable and it turns off.

[@Xbox360CodCams]

You'll need a new one

[@gilberto.t.y.hernandez7491]

Bad battery?

[@eddiemontgomery7088]

My sister's alternator went bad on the road. She was stranded.

[@thelastmarble2464]

How about when the battery and alternator are both brand new and the battery light stays on and the alternator is not charging it to 100%, I know it is not supposed to but battery keeps dieing

[@luismorales-lr4ws]

Same here my bettery just wont charge it did you find the problem?

[@wowimpeabass]

if the alternator is brand new and the battery is brand new the likely cause of the problem is what’s called a bad ground somewhere either in your wiring harness or basically anywhere if your car. it basically means there’s a connection that’s sucking the life out of your alternator and battery causing it not to charge or hold a charge.

[@thelastmarble2464]

@@wowimpeabass turns out it was the wire that had broke. Seems it was already breaking and I just didn't catch it

[@wowimpeabass]

@@thelastmarble2464 yea that’ll do it.

[@ChapterONE-xl8zq]

I’m having the same issues on my 2005 dodge Durango. Battery tested good, something was draining the battery but it wasn’t the alternator when I disconnected it and tested with meter. Found out the drain was coming from the IOD (ignition off draw) I disconnected the fuses and the drain stopped. But when I went to drive it the battery light came on and when I stopped and turned the car off it wouldn’t start again. Sounds like a wire issue. Any idea where to start looking?

[@thaddyellie]

thats awesome

[@prandomable]

If you disconnect the battery, and your car still runs, your battery is bad??? Wrong!!! That only means your alternator is still good. Has nothing to do with battery.

[@Mechanicalcircus]

disconnect jumper cables he didn't say anything about disconnecting battery terminals he only mentioned jumper cables and the loose alternator connector there bub

[@TheRoadLessChosen]

Ok. I did that and it still ran. I came back a few hours later to see if it would start and it started but I had to hold the gas peddle down to cause high rpms to continue to keep it running. If I didn’t do that the car would die.

[@prandomable]

@@TheRoadLessChosen you disconnected your whole battery while the vehicle is running???

[@prandomable]

@@TheRoadLessChosen you disconnected the whole battery??

[@BrotherofJeffTheKiller]

@@prandomableyeah with his teeth

[@stephenbell2588]

Only on older vehicles.

[@stoner4]

Do this ok,to check our alternator, disconnect your battery neg. Terminal your engine should stay running , if it shuts down ,your alternator.isnt putting out the 14v. Or 12, whatever,, I had this problem , also,,,,,if your cars Wipers start slowing down or the instrument panel dims , or you have an invertor check that,if it shows lower that 14.1 your alternator is bad ..

[@radoslavnashev8345]

. You mean not enough amperage trough the appliances, cause my berlingo having all sort of issues

[@Acetowman]

All day long that means you have a bad Alternator

[@seemaab]

I had the alternator issue so changed it but now car won’t start

[@LeskoBrandon2x]

You did it wrong

[@seemaab]

@@LeskoBrandon2x starts now because battery is weak but still not charging car. Fuse is blown so must be that. However what caused the fuse to blow that’s the question

[@LeskoBrandon2x]

@@seemaab lol I was just messing with you man.

[@jaybutton3004]

@@seemaabprobably got a ground short somewhere?

[@seemaab]

@@jaybutton3004 thanks. Alternator charges it now but car cranks and cranks at times with no start. Other times it cranks and starts without any problems.

[@zoominnboomin]

Not good to do this with most cars. Dont disconnect your batrery lol maybe for an older vehicle not so bad but dont do this yall! There are other simple ways to tell

[@saidaaaab]

What simple ways?????

[@stoner4]

Never try jump starting a newer car with the battery connected to the system,why? You could cause a surge to the ecm and shut it down ,,this is similar scenario to a emp attack ,ok,, charge your battery with the neg. Terminal off. That way uou won't complete the circuit to possibly harm the ecm ok , also if you don't know the condition of the cells in your battery its safer to put a charge with the battery disconnected then reconnect it and try starting it. All this over an alternator ,lol the newer cars are a headache.

[@stoner4]

Also after you have disconnected and reconnected the battery you will have to possibly drive your car for a while so it gets re acquainted with your system again, and your radio will need readjusted, your stations will not be saved. Ok ,I had a cevy 96 all electronic ,piece of crap. That's how I found out.

[@adamanderson8843]

Would running a higher octane fuel improve the efficiency of the alternator creating energy therefore maintaining charge on the battery more efficient and reducing wear and tear which would likely increase the systems longevity? Or is that more along the lines of trying to make a dumb question sound smarter dashed with a meager attempt of humor in an otherwise all too real situation that I find myself in right now!? Just whatever you do, don’t open your hood, get out and lock the doors because you’re broke down on the side of the road and you’re gonna take your battery to charge whilst visiting the local auto store to procure a new charging device or more commonly known as der alternatorenstein or “alternator”, so you remove the battery and close the hood only to then realize you have electric door locks and in order to open the hood you have to gain entry into the vehicle which has been locked and the battery removed so you think that’s ok I’ll just resort to action necessary to accomplish such tasks and do it the old fashioned way like our forefathers did and put the key in the lock on the actual door and viola … the key won’t actuate the mechanism that is dependent on electricity to lock and unlock the door and now you can’t access the hood release to… But don’t fret, I didn’t totally close the hood and can still open it by the release under the hood as normal. Whew. Ok enough if this, I think I’ve spent adequate time to full recharge the battery so off to the Zone…AutoZone. I’ll make sure ti do a follow up, for those interested, on some other random comment area so follow up isn’t necessarily guaranteed but didn’t want to leave anybody hanging because we all know how much that sucks. ✌🏻

[@John.Skelton]

DISCONNECT CABLES??? AS IN BOTH CABLES?? 🤔

[@knightshowtv4490]

No just one cable

[@John.Skelton]

@@knightshowtv4490 Okay thank you.

[@knightshowtv4490]

@@John.Skelton No problem

[@thelastmarble2464]

What if it stays running for just under 2 minute then idea once the cables are disconnected?

[@xxxnobodyxxx64]

Alternator. The whole point is it’s not holding charge to your battery.

[@6ixvamp]

This is horrible man. You keep removing the positive cable and reattaching. You are so lucky you didn’t get a power surge… you always remove the negative cable first

[@TheTruelakersfan]

Don’t do that an German cars you’ll fry your ecu or dme and you have to pay up 5k for a new one

[@brooobrooo3392]

Wow clean your car 😂😂😂

[@JohnDoe-jk8yy]

Mine want ever start

[@coCo-xc6yy]

Yeah do that to a newer car you risk frying the computer in your car only on old cars that works and no problems will happen and trust me the price to replace that computer will hurt ya

[@joedivetta383]

only for petrol not diesel