Hi al! What a job to change the Alternator. It was onlty putting out 11.7 volts, so I thought Okay, time to change it. Battery light kept coming on and eventually it would die as the battery went dead. Replaced the alternator and STILL only putting out 12Volts? So the question is, What the heck is going on here? If you know please let me know. This alternator thing has been one big headache. Any direction that you could offer would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for looking. Dan

 

The voltage regulator is in the PCM. It controls the output. It would have been to your advantage to pay someone to test the system beforehand. That thing i'm sure wasn't cheap. Does it stay at 12 volts while running, or does it gradually drop off?

 

Thanks for that. What is the CPN? And where is it at? Damn, I thought that all alternators now a days had the regulator in it. I feel like a ninny. Yes it stays at 11.7-12 Volts. Can I replace/repair the PCN. Even an olw dog will still learn a thing or two!LOL

 

do the basic first d u have 12volts at the big red wire? The do u have a power and a ground at the connector on the alt?

 

Are you saying it stays around 12 volts and doesn't drop off if you run it for, let's say, 15 minutes. Does the voltge vary, as in go up and down a little back and forth? If this is the case, than you have a voltage drop in your cable or you got a bad alternator. Check the voltage at the large cable on the back of the alternator and then check the voltage at the battery. If there is a big difference then you have a cable issue. If not, then get that new alternator tested where you bought it. Also check your grounds...all of the larger ones. Just follow them out from the battery.

 

Thanks for all of the comments! Greatly appreciated. Heres the poop.
The line that feeds the battery is good. The battery light stays on now since I replaced the alternator. Before that it was intermitt\ent. The battery is good. I looked into things and it is turning odd, at best. I have two small wires that clip on to the alternator, one is solid green and the other is green with an orange stripe. After some research I find I should test the green line for voltage.(what the alternator is putting out before it gets to the puter) I get nothing! When I check the green with the orange stripe, I get the voltage of the battery! Isnt that interesting. My thought at this pint is that that frickin clip is bad/broke or seriously corroded. If that is the case I feel like the biggest dummy this side od the St. Louis arch. I know that all the main lines ae good as I thouroughly checked them. Now we come to a ground. I remember reading somewhere that a ground strap for the alternator must be in place that is capeable of carrying the entire current output of the alternator? Where the heck would that be? Any comments agreatly appreciated and welcomed! Thanks so much all! Hopefully I can pay nit forward it the future.

 

Thanks to all that have commented and offered soloutions.
It ended up being pretty dumb and cost me 160.00 and 3 days
of head scratching and swearing. It ended up being the clip that goes
into the alternator. Period. If I had just stuck to my gut feeling without getting sidetracked I would not be posting here. I made my own clip, attached the two wire where thy go and the alternator sings, puttin out 13.7volts. Here is what I learned. All of you were right. Thats a fact. Good info too! Thanks. Usually when you put the "Clip" on it has two wires attached to it. You can have two "same" colored wires, or you will have a solid green and a green w/ an orange stripe. The solid green goes to the puter, telling it how many volts it is putting out. The computer then tells the alternator if it is okay. The green is the battery sensor (?) I think it lets the alternator know when to charge and when not to. IF, the puter is bad, then you will not get the volts you need to charge the battery. By checking the solid green wire first, you know what the alt is putting out. If you have like colored wires, you need to test each one and you will figure it out. In my case, I had a simple broken wire in the connector that caused all of the grief. Hence, Good Grief Charlie Brown! Thanks to all! Hope I have helped too. Digger Out.

 

NM, you posted while I was replying...good job.