Quoted:
He's talking about a externally regulated alternator...yours is internally regulated...you have a test meter.....hook it up with the truck running..note your output voltage....now, turn on your headlights on high beam and turn your blower motor on high speed....bring your idle up to around 2k....if your output is less than 13.5 volts....time for an alternator...or........just go to the parts store and have them check it....their VAT can check amperage output as well as voltage output.
btw...if replacing the alt.....try to get a new build..no rebuild...if not available get the lifetime warranty..your gonna need it. |
With the alternator out of the truck I can see the terminals he's talking about they are on the back of the regulator which is on the back of the alternator, it says something like ground to test.
I did go to Schucks this morning (I'd prefer NAPA but as everyone knows they aren't open on a Sunday) and Schucks is under a mile away. They hooked their gadget up which told me what my multimeter already told us, there's no output. They say have a bench test that they can do more if the alternator is out of the truck.
I picked up a new Autolite unit and it's in the truck headlights on at idle is 14.5-14.6 volts while I watched it run for about 5 minutes. Replaced the serpentine belt while I was at it, I'd had it around as a spare for sometime. I'll recheck the voltage with the lights on and the blower motor going.
Not such a bad job to do even parked on a street outside my building with latte sippers walking by headed to get more lattes looking at me like I'm a caveman getting my hands dirty. (if they only knew!)
BTW- there wasn't enough room to swing my 1/2" drive breaker bar with the 1/2"-3/8" adapter on it, it wanted to jam up hard against the plastic fan when the belt was off.
Thanks for the help on this!
ETA- does anyone know the proper torque value for the alternator mounting bolts?