alternator ??

[bensta]

i think my alternator is on the way out the last couple of days my little voltage metre has been up and down like a yoyo, just on the way home now it was nearly at the red line, it was one 11 or 12 volts, or is it another problem ?

[mightyredvc]

sounds like a fair guess. if ya can, do a load test on the battery aswell, just to rule that out

[bensta]

how do it do a load test?

[mightyredvc]

most battery testers have a switch on the front of them, that when connected to a battery and pressed, they put a 'load' across the battery. if the gauge drops and dosent come back up, it is probably shagged. but if it holds a reasonably constant reading, it should be ok. your local servo should be able to help ya out wit a tester, and showin ya how to do it.

[vlv8vic]

could be the dash meter? does the battery seem to be struggling at all? dimming headlights, slow starting etc.

[VT-565]

or it could be the regulator. don't know if they're internal or external on the VL's

[Stewart1000]

armm just an easy way to test it, swap the battery with another car and see how it holds up and if its fine then your origional battery is stuffed i'd say

[bensta]

na i dont think its the metre, its drops even further when i turn on the lights. etc, yeah it could be the regulator, hmm, the voltage goes up higher when the cars it moving. then drops down when i stop, noticed this alot yesterday

[Jules86]

i found when my alternator was shagged my battery light was on at the top of the cluster. Volt meter was reading 12-14 when i left home, got to work and it was reading 8, stop the car and she didn't start till 3 hours later. Left it with my bro and mate and come home to a working car

[Thomo]

mine did the same thing overcharge then next it would underchange had it all tested found the alternator was stuffed.it was one that couldnt be exchanged so it cost me around $300 for a new one .no problems after that.

cheers

[Jules86]

i paid 235 and a 6 pack of bundy for mine, not sure what happened to the old 1