why won't alternate but out charge to battery?
Asked by haskinsjohn7 Dec 20, 2015 at 06:50 PM about the 1997 Ford Taurus
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
I've got a 97 Ford Taurus that the alternator is only
putting out 11.65 volts the battery is good the
alternator was tested at Napa noisy but putting out
13 point bolt if you disconnect to Green alternator
wire the battery light comes off but if its connected
it stays on could there be a short in the system
6 Answers
The alternator should be putting out 14.7 volts bench testing. On the vehicle really should not check less that 14.5 to 14.3 volts. Sounds like the alternator is bad.
The rectifier on the alternator may be going out, it behaves differently when under load than when tested under no or very light load. By "noisy" I would assume you (or Napa) mean it is leaking AC voltage to the charging system, which can cause problems with most of your electrical system, especially computer modules. A bench test is a more thorough way to check an alternator.
13 volts at Napa and noisy ain't going to cut it. Might be time for a new alternator.
X4. Just buy a new or rebuilt alternator and call it a day.
And right back to ya Bob. And the other gents.
