Bulbs keep burning out WTF!
#18
Testing battery/voltage regulator/alternator:
1. The battery at idle (EDIT: NOT idle, I meant when the car is off) should read at around 12 volts. Any less, your battery is bad (assuming it's been driven regularly and hasn't been sitting for a long time).
2. When you crank the car, it should jump up to about 13.5 volts and stay around that mark during idle, but no more than around 14.5. When you crank the car, the alternator is charging the battery, which is why it'll read higher volts. If it's reading any less than around 13.5, your alternator isn't charging the battery properly.
3. To test the voltage regulator (you'll need another person to help), simply have your partner slowly rev the car. If the voltage keeps climbing as your partner revs (past the 14.5vish mark), then your voltage regulator is no good. The voltage regulator keeps the voltages down when your engine is under load to prevent the electrical systems in your car from... Well, blowing. That's obviously no good.
If you don't have a multimeter, you can take your car to Autozone or something and have them test your alternator/battery. The voltage regulator is part of the alternator, so if one goes, you'll have to replace the entire thing (I THINK). You can also hit me up; I've got a multimeter and I can come by and check it out (or you can come over to my place). Shoot me a PM if you wanna do that.
Last edited by dEnbOy.GFM; 08-16-2011 at 04:31 PM.
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IIIHawKIII (08-16-2011)
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