does my alternator have a problem ?

[kikoteng]

hello all !

good day to all.

ride is a toyota corolla xl 2000 ... 2e engine ...

noticed my ride vibrates erratically when aircon & headlights on.

so, had my electricals checked by the neighborhood elec shop ...

after checking voltages with aircon / headlights on, he was quick to offer trade-in for a recon unit instead of repair.


I'm wondering whether our neighborhood auto electrician has made a correct diagnosis. So, i took my digital voltmeter & took the ff readings:

1. idle - aircon off - headlights off - 14.04 volts
2. idle - aircon off - headlights on low beam - 13.16 volts
3. idle - aircon off - headlights on high beam - 12.95 volts
4. idle - aircon on - headlights off - 13.16 volts
5. idle - aircon on - headlights on low beam - 12.25 volts
6 engine off - battery voltage is 12.5 volts

Alternator belt seems ok, not loose. Changed about a year ago.
battery is enduro 2sm ... about 1 year 9 months old.

Have never done any maintenance on the alternator for the past 4 years.

I've read several threads at tsikot. From what i have read, everything seems ok except for #5. Some say its ok. Some say not. A


So, can anyone tell if my alternator is ok or is it in need of repair or replacement ?

Thanks in advance for your replies and advise.

[jick.cejoco]

hello all !

good day to all.

ride is a toyota corolla xl 2000 ... 2e engine ...

noticed my ride vibrates erratically when aircon & headlights on.

so, had my electricals checked by the neighborhood elec shop ...

after checking voltages with aircon / headlights on, he was quick to offer trade-in for a recon unit instead of repair.


I'm wondering whether our neighborhood auto electrician has made a correct diagnosis. So, i took my digital voltmeter & took the ff readings:

1. idle - aircon off - headlights off - 14.04 volts
2. idle - aircon off - headlights on low beam - 13.16 volts
3. idle - aircon off - headlights on high beam - 12.95 volts
4. idle - aircon on - headlights off - 13.16 volts
5. idle - aircon on - headlights on low beam - 12.25 volts
6 engine off - battery voltage is 12.5 volts

Alternator belt seems ok, not loose. Changed about a year ago.
battery is enduro 2sm ... about 1 year 9 months old.

Have never done any maintenance on the alternator for the past 4 years.

I've read several threads at tsikot. From what i have read, everything seems ok except for #5. Some say its ok. Some say not. A


So, can anyone tell if my alternator is ok or is it in need of repair or replacement ?

Thanks in advance for your replies and advise.

you mentioned the car vibrates when a/c is on or when there is electrical load. i would check and adjust the base idle first, then fast idle when there is electrical and/or a/c load (your car might be equipped with an idle air control, clean your throttle body and idle air control system too)

[mbk347]

hello all !

good day to all.

ride is a toyota corolla xl 2000 ... 2e engine ...

noticed my ride vibrates erratically when aircon & headlights on.

so, had my electricals checked by the neighborhood elec shop ...

after checking voltages with aircon / headlights on, he was quick to offer trade-in for a recon unit instead of repair.


I'm wondering whether our neighborhood auto electrician has made a correct diagnosis. So, i took my digital voltmeter & took the ff readings:

1. idle - aircon off - headlights off - 14.04 volts
2. idle - aircon off - headlights on low beam - 13.16 volts
3. idle - aircon off - headlights on high beam - 12.95 volts
4. idle - aircon on - headlights off - 13.16 volts
5. idle - aircon on - headlights on low beam - 12.25 volts
6 engine off - battery voltage is 12.5 volts

Alternator belt seems ok, not loose. Changed about a year ago.
battery is enduro 2sm ... about 1 year 9 months old.

Have never done any maintenance on the alternator for the past 4 years.

I've read several threads at tsikot. From what i have read, everything seems ok except for #5. Some say its ok. Some say not. A


So, can anyone tell if my alternator is ok or is it in need of repair or replacement ?

Thanks in advance for your replies and advise.

The surface voltage of a fully charged battery when a vehicle is not running should be between 12.5 to 12.8 volts. Most automotive batteries are lead acid 12-volt DC (Direct Current). Each of the six cells in a 12-volt DC battery produces 2 to 2.1 volts. When the engine is running, the alternator will typically put out between 13.8 to 14.8 volts.

[rmpmla]

based dun sa mga voltage readings na inilagay mo eh mukhang may problema nga alternator mo.

in the long run, eh madi-discharge na battery mo dahil kasama na ito na nagsu-supply sa electrical system mo particularly on night driving ( aircon ON and headlights ON)

Dapat kasi at full electrical load ( aircon ON, Headlight ON, stereo ON,fogs ON ) eh mas mataas sa 12.5 battery voltage ang makuha mong reading.

[mbk347]

The surface voltage of a fully charged battery when a vehicle is not running should be between 12.5 to 12.8 volts.
Most automotive batteries are lead acid 12-volt DC (Direct Current). Each of the six cells in a 12-volt DC battery produces 2 to 2.1 volts. When the engine is running, the alternator will typically put out between 13.8 to 14.8 volts.

[DasmaChild]

Check ung Idle
Check & Compare voltage from alternator & voltage from the Battery
Check ung Voltage Regulator
Hindi makakabawi ang battery mo kung ang ginawa mong readings mo ay tuloy tuloy ung 1-6 tapos pinatay agad ang makina (hindi makakabawi ang battery at baka hindi na makapagstart yang oto mo pag ginamit mo next day) kasi kelangan nyan at least 20 mins running time para makabawi ang battery
Kung may Battery Charger kau I charge & check ung voltage ng battery kung may itataas pa (kung wala na baka battery ang problema)
Kung may Hydrometer kayo I Check kung matabang ang tubig ng battery at kung matabang I Charge ang battery
kung wala pa rin maglagay ka ng tubig sa battery mo baka natuyuan lang yan
kung wala pa rin battery solution na ang ilagay mo

Kung ayaw na talaga Wag Niyo po kunin ung Recon unit agad I smell something Fishy dito ... I Pacheck mo muna sa iba ung matino at hindi ka lolokohin na shop kasi baka ung sira ng alternator mo ay maliit lang at baka malaki pa ang matipid mo.

[Chinoi]

Linisan mo muna mga battery terminals at yun ground wire cable connection sa chassis ng kotse. Dapat malinis walang kalawang. Kung luma na kotse at mga wiring connector. Mag pa -install ka na lang grounding kit. Malaking tulong iyan sa mga lumang kotse.

Sa tingin ko okay pa alternator mo dahil umaabot ng +14V.

[kikoteng]

based dun sa mga voltage readings na inilagay mo eh mukhang may problema nga alternator mo.

in the long run, eh madi-discharge na battery mo dahil kasama na ito na nagsu-supply sa electrical system mo particularly on night driving ( aircon ON and headlights ON)

Dapat kasi at full electrical load ( aircon ON, Headlight ON, stereo ON,fogs ON ) eh mas mataas sa 12.5 battery voltage ang makuha mong reading.

yun ang nasabi ng electrician ...

ang concern ko lang, troubleshooting and repair was never offered ... palit na agad.

Not sure if that's the usual option being offered everywhere else.

[kikoteng]

Linisan mo muna mga battery terminals at yun ground wire cable connection sa chassis ng kotse. Dapat malinis walang kalawang. Kung luma na kotse at mga wiring connector. Mag pa -install ka na lang grounding kit. Malaking tulong iyan sa mga lumang kotse.

Sa tingin ko okay pa alternator mo dahil umaabot ng +14V.

battery terminals kalilinis lang mga 1 month ago. Ground wire di ko pa nasubukan ilinis. Nililiha ba yon?

Ung wiring ng electricals ko ... pinapalit ko lahat dati ... that was 2008, october or november. Time na ba for grounding kit ?

[miked]

hello all !

good day to all.

ride is a toyota corolla xl 2000 ... 2e engine ...

noticed my ride vibrates erratically when aircon & headlights on.

so, had my electricals checked by the neighborhood elec shop ...

after checking voltages with aircon / headlights on, he was quick to offer trade-in for a recon unit instead of repair.


I'm wondering whether our neighborhood auto electrician has made a correct diagnosis. So, i took my digital voltmeter & took the ff readings:

1. idle - aircon off - headlights off - 14.04 volts
2. idle - aircon off - headlights on low beam - 13.16 volts
3. idle - aircon off - headlights on high beam - 12.95 volts
4. idle - aircon on - headlights off - 13.16 volts
5. idle - aircon on - headlights on low beam - 12.25 volts
6 engine off - battery voltage is 12.5 volts

Alternator belt seems ok, not loose. Changed about a year ago.
battery is enduro 2sm ... about 1 year 9 months old.

Have never done any maintenance on the alternator for the past 4 years.

I've read several threads at tsikot. From what i have read, everything seems ok except for #5. Some say its ok. Some say not. A


So, can anyone tell if my alternator is ok or is it in need of repair or replacement ?

Thanks in advance for your replies and advise.

seems to me a high resistance on the headlight circuit. check first your connections

[Chinoi]

battery terminals kalilinis lang mga 1 month ago. Ground wire di ko pa nasubukan ilinis. Nililiha ba yon?

Ung wiring ng electricals ko ... pinapalit ko lahat dati ... that was 2008, october or november. Time na ba for grounding kit ?

Kahit bago ang wiring ay useless kung may dumi or kalawang yun connector. Kung may corrosion or kalawang yun bolt at connector sa body ng kotse ay dapat lihain. Ang avoid natin ay loose connection or dumi na source ng voltage drop Iyun malaking ground wire sa -Bat terminal at body ground ay ang common sa lahat ng electricals ng kotse. Any voltage drop sa loose connection ay ma-affect lahat ng voltage reading. Especially kung high ampere yun na-on na device gaya ng headlamp or aircon.

Dapat malinis din yun ground connection ng Alternator for better charging current.

Kung hindi pa rin makuha sa linis ay install ka na lang ng Grounding Kit. Malalaking Ground Wire ito at sure na solve ang problem mo. Dahil kasama yun Alternator Ground ang "Grounding Kit".

[barako ba ma]

inanimate objects never have problems nor will they have experienced problems. all test have been done at idle, how about at around 2000 rpm (the most used cruising speed). maybe your idle speed is too low. charging rate depends on the state of charge of the battery, the speed of the field coil magnetically interacting with the stator, the resistance of the circuits and the capacity of the alternator. so, suffice it to say: if the battery appears to be okay and the alternator is the right size for the car, the constantly changing factor is the alternator speed.

[DasmaChild]

inanimate objects never have problems nor will they have experienced problems. all test have been done at idle, how about at around 2000 rpm (the most used cruising speed). maybe your idle speed is too low. charging rate depends on the state of charge of the battery, the speed of the field coil magnetically interacting with the stator, the resistance of the circuits and the capacity of the alternator. so, suffice it to say: if the battery appears to be okay and the alternator is the right size for the car, the constantly changing factor is the alternator speed.

Well Said Sir!

[ARB]

sir try to go to a reputable service center or any motolite outlet and have them diagnose your electrical system. They will mount a battery/alternator tester that has a meter and will show either your battery is still good or needs changing or your alternator is working properly.

[kikoteng]

Hi all !

Tried cleaning battery terminals as well as the battery to chassis ground connection. Discovered the chassis ground connection was not bare metal. It had paint on it.

So, sanded away the paint to reveal bare metal.

After cleaning, headlights were brighter & engine was more responsive (mas malakas ang hatak) when driving.

The voltages were roughly same as before though ... about 0.1 volts or so difference.

But love the improved acceleration.

[dr. d]

check also your idling rpm. also, there is an idle-up control that comes on when aircon and other engine loads are turned on, to bring your idling rpm higher and prevent engine vibration and/or battery discharge.. i'm not sure what your engine has: a vacuum-operated system or an electromechanical relay... if only for a short time para mawala ang vibration, you can increase your idling speed by playing with the idling screw.. but this will also result in increased fuel consumption, hence the "temporary"..