Hey quick question. OK, I got a new alternator at autozone on 9/12/04 after mine died. It ran fine until yesterday, when my low battery light came on. I had autozone charge my battery then test it, and it tested bad.

I got a new battery, and it was OK for the drive back to my apt, but today going to work, the low battery light came on again. It stays on under 1,000 RPMs, and at intermittent times throughout the RPM band. I checked the connections on the alternator and they seem tight. The belt is also at a good tension.

The battery is only at 11.7V when the car is on, when revved, it stays at 11.7 instead of going above 13. The volts directly on the alternator are also under 12. What could the problem be? A bad diode in the alternator? Its only 2 weeks old, and I wanted to get your opinions before I go in and get a replacement for it tomorrow. Thanks!

 

take the alternator to autozone and get it tested.

 

Make sure everything is securely connected. Look at the + terminal on the alternator and make sure its snug. Look at the connection inside the fuse box and make sure thats secure. Lastly, make sure the grounding on the battery is good as well as the positive terminal on the battery.

 

do you have an amp or alarm? Check both of thoes for grounds, shorts.

 

Hey I had the same problem. Spent $70 buck at Honda Dealership for them to tell me that it's the alternator. I ask them how do they know. They said your Battery has a reading of 11.7 volts. It's suppose to be 12.5-13.0. Also the alternator is reading the same at 11.7 volts. It's suppose to be reading 13-14 volts. So, it's a bad alternator. Take it out and get it replaced. I had lifetime. Also the aftermarket alternators may or may not turn your battery light on inside the car. Mine never did and I couldn't tell why my battery kept going down. Also I had it check with Advance and they told me it was the battery. Bought a new battery and a few days later it went down. So a $130 bucks later, it was the ALTERNATOR. GOOD LUCK.

 

thanks for the suggestions and advice guys. Took of the alternator on Sat and went to autozone, came up 0 amps on their test rack so they gave me a new one. Everything seems to be working good so far, but the one they sold me on sept 12 took two weeks to go bad. so we'll see

 

I've had alternators go bad in two days.

I'm on my fourth alternator since March.

 

i bought an alternator at advanced auto parts for my old car and it went bad 3 times . very fustrating

 

Get an OEM alternator.