AutoZone Car Care: When to Replace Your Alternator 

> "Always wear eye protection" > Continues to go under the hood without safety goggles

Don’t take your battery to autozone to charge or test. They like to rip you off. Tried ripping me off and i stole a battery charger from them and was able to charge it myself.

So your telling me you can take my alternator out & test it & if it is the issue & I buy a alternator… your saying I have to look up how to replace it when you can literally replace it for me… because even if I don’t buy one or do your going to put the old one back anyways… so you might as well put the new one on for me

Just changed my alternator today but when I'm driving "the break light and battery lights turn on" and come and go. Don't know what to do. Plus... When I took my car to Autozone to check my "Che k engine light" nothing happened with the thing the guy connect to the car to read the codes. Nothing came out. Weird. He said is weird that nothing comes out even when we see the "break,battery and " check engine soon " lights on. Any help ?

It's easy, you can tell for sure that it's the alternator if it came from Autozone.

Nothing beats OEM alternators. Reman don't last. Its just a fact!

i like this presentation

here is a voltage drop test you should also teach .. engine off. turn headlights on for one minute. then turn off. set volt meter at 20 volts DC. measure battery voltage at the posts.. 12.65 is a fully charged battery 12.45 is a 3/4 charged battery 12.25 is a 1/2 charged battery. try to perform this test if the state of charge is over 12.5 volts. start engine . turn on headlights. meter set at 20 volts scale. test One. Negative battery post to the Positive battery post.. 14.1 to 14.8 volts DC is expected. test Two.. Negative battery post to the engine block.. 0.04 volts DC max. test Three. Negative battery post to the body.. 0.02 volts DC max. test Four. Engine block to the Firewall . 0.02 volts DC max. test Five. Positive battery post to multiple fuses in the under hood fuse block. 0.04 volts DC max. try to test as many fuses as you can.. there are multiple buss bars in some under hood fuse blocks and you can loose individual sections. test six. Positive battery post to the Alternator output stud. 0.3 volts MAX that is 3/10ths of a volt.. because the alternator is putting out significant current. i like to see as close to zero as possible.. 0.08 would be very good.. 60s and 70s mopars with hard wired amp meters in the instrument cluster will read 0.7 volts and be perfect. if you get 0.00 on tests two thru 6.. change the volt meter setting to 2 volts DC or 2,000 Millivolts DC. perform the tests again.. some meters don't show fractions of a volt below 2 volts very well. a test section showing 0.00 volts usually is an incorrect probe location for that section of the test. tests 1 thru 4 should be performed on every car with any kind of electrical issues. including engine /codes. 1 thru 4 can be performed in under a minute after you have learned them.. you will want to perform tests 1 thru 4 and perhaps 5 on every car before you finish working on it to prove the wiring under the hood is properly hooked up. you cannot see voltage drops except with this test. it will save your hours of work and also prevent many comebacks if you spend these few minutes and PROVE the wires are properly attached and not corroded.

This sounds like all the problems with my car and there's nothing more annoying then getting in your car in a hurry to get on time then trying to start it and hearing the clicking sound

First thing to check alternator for stickers that say "100% Tested", yellow "Charging Problems" with 800 number, "Duralast" and "reman". If you have any of these or you have installed a AutoZone alt about 6months-1year ago then that is going to be your issue 90% of the time

Remember, "Do It Yourself" doesn't mean you have to do it alone. Nice slogan. I've always appreciated anyone helping me with car trouble. And you're never as alone as when you have car trouble - alone!

I have a 92 cadillac deville and when my alternator has given me problems I check the codes to see what it is saying is the problem and it never says there's a problem smh

Definitely The Governor

Your Reman Duralast alternators are junk. I'm on my third one in 2.5 years and have zero confidence in this one. My battery and terminal are brand new but I wish i had gone to the dealer. Lifetime warranty is worthless when you're pushing your car out of heavy traffic to get to a safe spot.

Best video. Solved my alternator problem.

bought an alternator from auto zone.I installed it.It killed my battery.Took it back had it check it was bad.Got another off the shelf and had him check it before I took it.Guess what? It was bad too.Junk parts

Having your starter or alternator tested at ANY auto parts store always seem to not be reliable.

If you can start the car, take the voltmeter and measure across the battery terminals. A bad alternator will be 12V or less and will drop as you add electrical loads (alternator not charging). A good alternator will put out 13.8-14.2 volts and be able to maintain this voltage even with loads added. This isn't a complete test as it doesn't test the alternator current output but gives you a basic check. I just replaced an alternator where the battery light came on only at at idle. The wipers ran low at all engine speeds and the voltage was about 12V and dropping. No charge. This was the second reman alternator in 2 years (at least it is free). The original lasted 250K miles!

the Governor?

my nissan 300zx manual only refers too mechanics as a " he "

well you and me know different women every girl im friends with work on cars and never complain my gf and my friend andrea is helping me with my truck

I'm a young women and I'm not stupid I'm going to school to be a mechanic everybody is on different levels when it comes to cars or anything not just women.

I don't think he wore his safety glasses while working on the engine.

My Car Was Running Fine , But I Had A Bad Battery . It Sat For About 6 Months . I Bought A New Battery yesterday . Lights &ND Stuff Came on Fine But It Wouldn't Turn Over &ND There Was No Clicking . Can Someone Tell Me What's Wrong ?

Auto Zone electrical parts suck!

In my car, the battery would die if the car wasn't used for several days -- particularly during damp weather. Also the car kept destroying batteries. No mechanic performed or even suggested a parasitic draw test. The problem was the rectifiers in the alternator's output. They had shorted. The battery would discharge through the alternator's windings. One day, the alternator caught fire while the car was parked. Fortunately I noticed the fire while it was still small. Replacing the alternator ended the problems with batteries.

my headlights and internal lights flicker when engine is on

So me and my uncle just installed a rebuilt alternator, and then the battery wouldn't keep a charge, would be the battery or are we missing something?

Are there strange noises from the hood..?

Hi, I have an Dodge Charger 2014 and just Chang the alternator. Still after running for some time I am getting an Battery Saver Mode option. Note: I have checked with Mechanic and my batter is ok also. Plz help and advise wat to do??

Cool video.. I just got my alternator change by Tire Discount. SOBs didn't do a good job. My car completly die on me. I had to walk my ass home and I didn't get home until 1am. Assholes..... If anyone has a tire Discount in there home city, don't go there. Do the work your self instead.

Thank you my lights get dim sometimes they blink thanks a million

I wish I had an Auto Zone where I live, they would make a killing as there is nothing like that here.

not if theres no juice what so ever running threw your car

so if my alternator is charging it could still be draining my battery

Can the alternator be tested by Autozone in place, i.e. without removing it from the car?

hey i m having ford 1.4 tdci , whenever i start the car , that battery warning light glows but if i press the throttle all the way to 4000rpm it disappers till i shut the engine Off , plz help me

Hi I just went to a garage because I had engin light on and service traction control on the dashboard so we the filter and than my battery voltage is goes to 14 than goes back to 12.5 do you think is from the alternator my mechanic told me is the alternator because my battery is good and the engine light won’t go off?

Have 12 in subs in a 2.0l 07 focus so Lights Been Dimming lol but Yest the Light Came on and Yep 12v was the Supply to battery Then at Idle It dropped down to 6v and Stall. Was The Alternator the 170$ -240$ Alternator need to Give Free Lube at that Price

Gloves and safety glasses???

I got my off the car they told me come over Autozone check the alternator in their machine tomorrow hooe is that problem

You guy it bring my alternator are check it thank let me know my the fuses 60 amp broke it Thad one got for the alternator don't know it work ok take aut the positive cable car don't got off my friend to me some time can be like Thad don't got off and still alternator no good thank thing my battery nes day no want stars the car

2:59 do a continuity test with multi meter so you don’t have to remove fuses

Hi I just went to a garage because I had engin light on and service traction control on the dashboard so we the filter and than my battery voltage is goes to 14 than goes back to 12.5 do you think is from the alternator my mechanic told me is the alternator because my battery is good and the engine light won’t go off?

My car makes a noise like the first noise. Rumbling. Is it alternator bearings

👍🏻

It could be the freeze plugs lmao

My car alternator has gone but it still drives if I drive 2 miles and 2 miles back will it be ok or do u reckon il break down?

My car is whinning and it gets louder with increasing Rpm

Very informative 😁😎

Basically took your battery to AutoZone thanks for nothing but a waste of 4:50 buddy

"ALTERR-NATERR"

Good job

good info

If I fully charge my battery and drive for about 20 minutes and the battery starts to drain could it be the alternator that’s not working

Yeah I remember locots and tecolots

Good information I will try it and see if works or not 👍

He sounds like obama

Well explained

I just had to replace my alternator. bought one at autozone, it was also bad. had to go back a second time and get another one. that one worked. but I was worried it was something else. used a volt meter to check.

Correct

all of my dashboard lights came on, does this mean the alternator is bad? the car drives fine, 2006 Jetta

My gf has been working on cars since she was 7 I started like 1 year ago

My alternator is nicely tucked near my right wheel just about under the engine 😅

Why am I having problems finding a video on a 2001 Mercury Sable alternator instruction video?! yes, I understand Ford and Mercury are essentially one in the same; but every video I watched with a Ford, didn't have the same location as my alternator :-\ I know removal is the same process but due to it's location, I don't know what all to remove in order to access the alternator, preferably I want to remove as little as possible so I don't lose parts of my engine by forgetting to put parts back! I mean, I can HULK it and eventually get to the alternator lmao! but that would be pointless, render my Sable completely useless and defeat the purpose. Does anyone have a link or is anyone able to guide me in the proper direction? precise tools? precise removal process? etc etc.

When im running my car with ac turned on its running fine..but when i turn the wipers on a few minutes later my alternator seems to overheat

start my car and my alternator starts smoking what's wrong

plz someone help!! my car qont stay charged. new alternator..new starter..new battery and still the battery wont stay charged. 1987 olds cutlas ciera.

find the smallest drill bit you own and very carefully drill directly to the center of the idiot light warning,sometimes you may have to rotate the bit in small circular pattern till the light goes out replace bit entry path with a empty pen ink cartridge black if possible to appear as a tripomemeter reset. no more annoying light and saved hundreds on resale value. my check engine light would still be on cause my catalytic converters are original 1996 with 287,099 miles and my Obd2 and oxygen sensors are not the wiser just like the emissions dept. who needs a light you will know when your car is running like crap. unless your just an idiot like the light name implys.

He forgot to mention, on a lot of cars and trucks, if the generator light stays on when you turn the key OFF, even though everything else check's out it could be a bad diode in your alternator.

I went to Autozone for them to do the tester on the whole car, no codes came up. this was a month ago...I think my alt's is out, shouldn't that tester pulled up a code warning me that it was weak? I'm trying to determine rather I have an alt problem or just a weak battery...

The light was lit on the dashboard. The service man behind the counter, sold me a battery, actually ''The Gold Warranty Battery'', installed the new battery, then I left the store ''With The Battery Light Still On, which he also knew.'' ***Now before I get soaked for buying a $160.00 Battery, I'm going back down to that Store First Thing In The Morning & Get My Original Battery, because it ''Wasn't The Battery In The 1st Place.'' ***This is what he should have done in the 1st place.*** ***If AutoZone Tries To Run That Old, ''The Batteries have already Been Picked Up, I'm Going To Complain.*** ***If They Try That, We Have No Way Of Finding Your Old Battery***, That Should Be Easy. Its Going To Be That New Looking Battery, Furthest From The Back Door In The Rear Of The Building..... I got jacked around, Two separate times. The last time was when my son was fired from his job because the Salesman Behind The Counter at the Elizabeth Lake Road Store Sold Us A Front Left Caliper for an F-150 With Rear Drum Brakes. Ford Hasn't Used Trucks With Rear Drums Since Like 1992. My Son Fell Asleep an Hour Just Before He Was Supposed To Leave For Work. And I Was Supposed To Believe AutoZone Has That Set As Their Parts Books #1 Choice For The 2003 Ford Pickup Truck, Oh Hell No.............. Now After The Union Stepped In On My Son's Behave, He Was Aloud Back To Work, [3-Days Later Without Pay], He's On A 1 Year Probation Period. Late or Misses 1 Day, He's Gone For Good. So This 2-Hour Job Ended Up Costing My Son $600 In Lost Wages & Pretty Much His Job Working at the Closes Job Sight To His House. In Order To Continue To Use AutoZone, I MUST Read Everything About My Vehicles Prior To Buying From Them On RU-vid. Plus I Have to Sometimes Check With Another Parts Store, [Which Is A Retarded Thing To Do But After What Happened To Him, Damn. I'll Probably Have To Edit This Answer Tomorrow After I Get Back To AutoZone & Get My Original Good Battery Back.....

Great vid, thanks.

1:55 🗃️📚📝 Free charging and testing ⚡

U have a sexy voice ;-) carry on mate cheers

Carlos Garcia Are you driving a Ford? If so you need a chevy

This one is nice becothe mest teche me I'm prawd this

always buy “ new “ when buying a alternator .