Alternator charge

[sprinter119]

hello guys and gals i have a question for ya. i have brachs lightweights pulleys the PS, WP and ALT pulley they are on my car. first question is my alternator is holding a cahrge of 14v at idle i was told normal idle is 12v is this anything to worry about? there is also this kinda of ticking noise it sounds like its coming from the PS pump the guys who put the pulleys in said it may have a bad bearing is this at all possible. I know i wont be taking it to them again. thanks for the help

 

[Tom03es]

Don't know if trust anything these guys told you. Normal battery voltage is 12 volts. Normal voltage at the battery while the engine is running with a properly functioning alternator is 14.4 volts (actually about 13.2-14.5 volts).

But it is possible that a power steering pump could have a bad bearing. Bearings do wear out and the power steering pump should have at least one.

 

[Typrus]

At idle, with normal load, your battery voltage should be sitting right around 14 as Tom said.
When it gets above about 15-15.5 you need to TURN IT OFF. That means the regulator is likely on its way out and you will fry stuff up in short order. Saw a Chevy pickup's wiring harness light up because it's regulator conked out and it started pushing 17v suddenly. His lights popped and then the smoke.

But don't worry about that.


Here's a good alternator test.
After your car has sat overnight, take a voltage reading from the battery (should be 12-12.8v ideally)
Keep the number in mind.

Go in and start the car and turn off every accessory and load you can.
Go take a reading. It should be at least 1.5v higher.
Keep this number in mind.

Go turn on everything. Stereo, fan, lights on high-beam (or low with foggers if that'll draw a higher load) dome lights.... Everything you can.
Your voltage should still be at least 1v higher than the initial voltage. If not, go to AutoZone and have them test it for you. You might have a diode on its way out.

 

[P-Funk!]

They may have damaged the p/s pump when they replaced the pulley.

They don't have a history of failing...

 

[peajay]

imo, anyone who would tell you a normal charging voltage is 12v should not be trusted....

 

[sprinter119]

Thanks guys yea a couple of the guys i hang out with around here told me about Millenium i had to take my car back twice already and a friend of mine had to take his back 5 times. I wont be going back there at all thanks for all the information guys.

 

[carter1551]

sorry to threadjack but ive got a similar question. I have a udp and i cant even run my foglights with my headlights without the belts chirping like crazy. Ive tightened them plently. The problem seems to get better after the car gets nice and warm but if i stop at a light or something it will act up again. Would this be alternator related or battery related?

 

[Tom03es]

Your belts still squeal? I'd say that's a loose belt or POSSIBLY (and this is probably a stretch) one of your accessories is providing excessive drag (alternator/water pump/power steering pump trying to seize up).

Tighten your belts again. If you grab a belt about mid-span between pullies, you shouldn't be able to rotate it more than 1/4 turn.

 

[P-Funk!]

It may be the other belt - not the alt belt. Check tension on BOTH.