Is my alternator taking a crap?

[Hintzyboy 5,000+ posts]

Hey guys. I was driving down the road Sunday night, and an indicator light comes on saying something is messed up with my charging system. My voltage dropped from ~14 volts to ~12 volts. For about 25 miles, it held a steady 12 volt reading, but then it dropped to 9/10 volts as I was driving home last night. Do you guys think it's my alternator, or is it something else? Maybe a voltage regulator? Is there any way I can check this without pulling a bunch of parts out of the engine bay?

Please respond if you have any idea what's going on. I need to get this fixed ASAP.

Thanks guys,

Aaron

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[brandontw 10+ year member]

youll know when it stops charging your car... But it sounds like the alternator starting to die, it might last another month or two with shoddy performance, but i would take action before it strands you.

 

[Hintzyboy 5,000+ posts]

youll know when it stops charging your car... But it sounds like the alternator starting to die, it might last another month or two with shoddy performance, but i would take action before it strands you.

Yeah, I talked to my car guy and just went and picked up a re-built one. About $130 after I get the core charge back. I also found out that the voltage regulator is part of the alternator unit (I have a very limited knowledge of this kind of stuff). But I think that is what was going bad. Because my gauges showed 9/10 volts when I last turned off the truck, but I pulled the battery to charge it before I install the new alt, and it's pretty much fully charged (DMM read between 11.9 and 12.1 volts).

IDK, but I have a new alty now and should have it installed by tomorrow or thursday.