Alternator or new battery?

[benjiaka]

Ok blokes.. my cars battery lights been coming on and off recently. until today it showed a sign of struggle. This has all happened since my boot installation of my stereo. After work tonight i had to call my missus to come jump start my VP commodore. It was just.. Click Click Click... etc

Attempted to drive it home, and the lights started fadeing. until the point were i turned them off and back on when neccesary.. (scary on the freeway :] )

My question is, is it the alternator? well i personally believe so. Or is it the battery?

And how much would i be looking at for a new alternator fitted? Just under the $200 mark?

Thanks heapz.

[kniever]

if the lights coming on then its the alternator.

[commsirac]

If the light comes on while the engine is running, it is giving you a warning about the voltage put out by the alternator is too low. This could mean a new alternator, or it could be just a $30 new regulator that is needed. take out the regulator.......black rectangle about the matchbox size on rear of alternator and inspect the contacts(two carbon rods).........these can be worn.......or the electrics of the reg have gone dodgy......try and see if the contacts inside the alternator(commutator rings) are worn too.......which may mean a new alternator is more feasible.

[jas98]

i have just noticed that my battery light flickers on at startup and sometimes when im driveing...new battery (this has just started abiout 1 week after i got the battery) i do however know it may be the regulator but it should stay one while driveing not flicker..........car still goes sweet ass lol besides the massive oil leak from the sump

[RVN 355]

Id say regulator replace that 1st mights save ur self 50 buks tho if its not u can rule that out and know thats something crossed off the list.

[Lost_Pete]

Similiar story with my car. Battery light coming on and off at intermittent times. Changed the regulator and has been good since.

[benjiaka]

The thing is, i require alot of power for my stereo system. 2x Amps, 2x 15INCH subs.. like the works, and my mate.. being very good with cars etc, said i need a higher voltage alternator, and its because of the stereo thats just been put in 2 months ago. :/ i'll check the regulator.. see how it is.. i'll take a stab tomorrow.

[kniever]

if ya gonna replace anything than just got buy yourself a bigger alternator so then you got piece of mind

[Just_a_stocker]

Battery volts at stop should be about 12.5 --12.7 V
Running it should be over 14 V

Mine was this exactly however the regulator was draining it overnight to about 12.1 V
sitting.
Check your volts about 15 minutes after it has stopped for the day then check them the next morning to see if there is any drain.

cheers

[ad45]

bigger alternators put out more amps dude not voltage you can hook up the one you have now a different way and get 50% more out of it its pretty easy to do, at the moment it will be hooked up star you just need to change the connection to delta

[kniever]

bigger alternators put out more amps dude not voltage you can hook up the one you have now a different way and get 50% more out of it its pretty easy to do, at the moment it will be hooked up star you just need to change the connection to delta

can you please explain that better, whats star and delta and how does it give you 50% more?

[ad45]

it gives you more because the windings in delta are connected in parallel and series when connected star, on the alternator stator you have six leads coming out of the windings, 3 will be joined together and 3 will go to the diodes on the regulator, you separate the 3 joined together with a multimeter find out which ones are the same circuit, easiest way is to mark them a, b, and c and the other end of them a1 b1 and c1 obviously a and a1 are one phase b and b1 another and c and c1

so you join a with c1, b with a1, and c with b1 and then just solder back onto the diodes

the only thing with delta is the engine has to rev a little harder before the alternator kicks in to charge but yeah you will get roughly 50 % more output

[benjiaka]

Ok guys i went to my Auto electrition and he sussed out the alternator for me. And i saw i for myself. My Regulator's bushes were worn completely and one was burnt. He had a worked alternator, brand new, which he placed into the VP. He said the old one was the original and they usually screw up on 150,000kms roughly. He gave it to me for $150 installed.

ntb aye?

Thanks guys for ya help.
Edit: He also said the alternator itself shat itself lol

[jas98]

thats a pretty good price