testing an alt

[>>SQL<< 10+ year member]

I am going to buy a HO Alt from Ebay soon.

Before I install it if I take it to an Auto Parts store will they be able to test it and tell me how many amps it puts out? i know they can test to see if it is good or bad but i do not know if they can test the actual output?

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[pro-rabbit 5,000+ posts]

I wouldn't buy one from ebay. To much of a risk. Better off paying a few more bucks and getting one locally built or from a reputable manufacture.

 

[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

OP what vehicle do you have and what alt size?

 

[sacsking916 5,000+ posts]

i've never trusted the ones off ebay. i would do like rabbit said and get a reputable person/company. when i tried ordering mine off ebay and asked the guy questions about it, he couldnt answer me a single question about the alt in question.

 

[mylows10 5,000+ posts]

you can take it to a local alt shop ,they can test it and tell you what you need to know .i did the ebay alt and ended up having to rebuild it 4 months later.so i will never do that again

 

[>>SQL<< 10+ year member]

OP what vehicle do you have and what alt size?

I have a 97 Honda Accord 2.2L

As for rebuilding the Alt locally the shop here does not do it.

The ebay seller has very good feedback - the alt has a 1 year warranty from the seller.

I just ordered it from him - he is building me a 140 amp alt for $120 shipped which is all the money I have and cannot spend another dollar.

I believe that the 90 amp stock alt has no chance of handling the amount of power my system is going to draw.

 

[>>SQL<< 10+ year member]

This is who I ordered it from

Alternator, Starter items in BNR Parts store on eBay!

 

[Whytellyou]

I got me a boss alternator in my accord. It's awesome till the bass hits! Lol.

 

[sacsking916 5,000+ posts]

yeah he is the same guy who couldnt answer a single question of mine about the alt i was going to buy. hope you have good luck with it

 

[sacsking916 5,000+ posts]

I got me a boss alternator in my accord. It's awesome till the bass hits! Lol.

troll fail //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/nono.gif.eca61d170185779e0921b0faa9704973.gif

 

[cbuts 10+ year member]

he dosnt even got 1 for my car.. 06 malibu lt v6 3.5

 

[myjaja 10+ year member]

We pretty much have the same car and I bought one a few years back from ebay. They **** at idle. Id keep the stock alt over any of those ebay ho alts. If you want a good ho alt, look at mechman or dc. DC actually has a sale on everything for a short period of time

 

[>>SQL<< 10+ year member]

lucky for my i moved from Miami florida where I sat in traffic all day to the mountains of TN.

The closest traffic light to me is 23 miles away, no joking.

My car runs at around 3,000 RPMS whenever I am in it so the $120 Alt will work just about as good as the $300 one. IMHO

 

[>>SQL<< 10+ year member]

Well I drove to town yesterday (a 50+ mile round trip) and went to both Autozone and Orylies and both could only give me a Pass or fail.

Neither one could tell me how many amps it produced just that it produced at least the stock rated amount of 80 amps.

So mostly a waste of a day yesterday.

 

[ahole-ic]

Well I drove to town yesterday (a 50+ mile round trip) and went to both Autozone and Orylies and both could only give me a Pass or fail.Neither one could tell me how many amps it produced just that it produced at least the stock rated amount of 80 amps.

So mostly a waste of a day yesterday.

You'll need to find someone with a DC clamp meter(expensive for an accurate one and more rare than you'd think). Have them put the clamp on the positive wire. Then use a standard volt meter or dmm. Play a tone and slowly turn your stereo up. When the volt meter reads 12.8v take a look at the dc current reading. That's how many amps your alt can produce at that rpm.