2013~2016: Not the CX-5 alternator?

[Aldo]

Everything I've read on this site and elsewhere says an alternator should almost outlast the car - 100,000 - 180,000 MILES.
My CX-5 is the KE version (the earlier models) but with a 2.5 L imported from Japan - it is 2014 but has only 51,000 KM (not miles - so around 30,000 miles)
Mazda dealer says the alternator is failing - with 11 something showing on the multimeter. But I'm not convinced. Couldn't it be the belts? Or the belt tightener? Also, the 2.5 L I have (gas) is not a turbo, but the belt they installed (PY0115909A) is for a turbo as far as I can tell and is slightly longer (by half a cm) - could that cause the lower output - not tight enough? I just changed the battery too.

 

[Conrad 16.5]

I've been on this site for a while now and I have never read anything here about the longevity of the alternator.

"Mazda dealer says the alternator is failing - with 11 something showing on the multimeter."

More info is needed! 11vdc with the engine running or off?

You just changed the battery? Was the new battery fully charged? What was the voltage reading at that point? A fully charged battery will read around 12.5vdc with the engine off. After starting, the reading should be greater than 14vdc. If it's lower than this then no charging is taking place.

If the belt is slipping, doubtful, you most likely will be able to hear it screeching.

 

[Jmaz]

As @Conrad 16.5 mentioned above and if it were me I'd avoid the dealer since the car is long out of warranty. Just my .02.

 

[shooter357]

If you have a multimeter check battery voltage at rest then start the car and see what the difference is. With engine running it should read a little higher than 12 volts. The regulator built in the alternator may be failing.

 

[N7turbo]

If you have a multimeter check battery voltage at rest then start the car and see what the difference is. With engine running it should read a little higher than 12 volts.

Usually ~14v.

 

[Aldo]

I've been on this site for a while now and I have never read anything here about the longevity of the alternator.

"Mazda dealer says the alternator is failing - with 11 something showing on the multimeter."

More info is needed! 11vdc with the engine running or off?

You just changed the battery? Was the new battery fully charged? What was the voltage reading at that point? A fully charged battery will read around 12.5vdc with the engine off. After starting, the reading should be greater than 14vdc. If it's lower than this then no charging is taking place.

If the belt is slipping, doubtful, you most likely will be able to hear it screeching.

Thanks for your reply @Conrad 16.5 and others - I forget the exact numbers but both were roughly the same engine on and off - just below par for both - a brand new battery and the original alternator (30k miles). As mentioned, the battery is brand new so are the belts for the water pump and the serpentine 6-groove alternator belt - but I notice Mazda superseded the original PY0115909 serpentine belt (970 mm length - which is the right one for a non-turbo 2014 2.5L gas), with PY0115909A - the latter is 5mm longer (half a centimeter longer) and seems to be for 2.5L turbo. The dealer wants me to buy a new alternator - shipped from Japan by sea (one month) - the car was imported from Japan - for around USD 800. I'm in a country where the mom and pop auto repair shops are very hit and miss..so it's at the dealer - and I'm without wheels. I'm not convinced such a young alternator would pack it in, despite the age of the car itself. Any other ideas? Belt tensioner adjusting since the new belt is slightly longer than original?

 

[Conrad 16.5]

Thanks for your reply @Conrad 16.5 and others - I forget the exact numbers but both were roughly the same engine on and off - just below par for both - a brand new battery and the original alternator (30k miles). As mentioned, the battery is brand new so are the belts for the water pump and the serpentine 6-groove alternator belt - but I notice Mazda superseded the original PY0115909 serpentine belt (970 mm length - which is the right one for a non-turbo 2014 2.5L gas), with PY0115909A - the latter is 5mm longer (half a centimeter longer) and seems to be for 2.5L turbo. The dealer wants me to buy a new alternator - shipped from Japan by sea (one month) - the car was imported from Japan - for around USD 800. I'm in a country where the mom and pop auto repair shops are very hit and miss..so it's at the dealer - and I'm without wheels. I'm not convinced such a young alternator would pack it in, despite the age of the car itself. Any other ideas? Belt tensioner adjusting since the new belt is slightly longer than original?

Yes, I had some ideas and questions, and I gave them to you in the post above. I'm assuming that you read them but chose not to reply to these.

I won't ask again but I will say this, just because a battery is brand new does not mean that it's fully charged. If you installed a brand-new battery do not assume that it's fully charged. It needs to be checked as does the voltage after the engine has been started to determine if the system is charging the battery.