How to Test an Alternator - Plus How an Alternator Works
Автокөліктер мен көлік құралдары
In this video I am going to show you how you can easily and conclusively diagnose issues and test your alternator. I will also take an alternator apart and show you what all the different parts like the rotor, stator, rectifier and voltage regulator work and how you can fix or replace them as well.
Here are links to products which were used in this video:
Battery Load Tester: amzn.to/2qcI5vr
Battery Charger: amzn.to/2pSXDno
Multimeter: amzn.to/2p8VtRj
Aligator Clips: amzn.to/2pSPIWU
Test Light: amzn.to/2pSLpLl
Link to AlternatorMan's Channel: / alternatorman
Please Consider Supporting My Channel at : / rnw
Facebook: / ratchets2015
Twitter: / ratchets15
Instagram: / ratchetsandwrenches
Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of Ratchets and Wrenches, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. Ratchets and Wrenches assumes no liability for any property or personal damage that may arise from doing a repair on your vehicle after watching any of my repair video's. Due to factors beyond the control of Ratchets and Wrenches, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Again Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not Ratchets and Wrenches.
Пікірлер: 676
as a career tech, (power plant and semiconductor) you just don't get this kind of knowledge and communication from a technician very often. Fantastic video Ratchets and Wrenches! can't imagine where those dislikes came from
@I_HaVe_QuEsTiOnS4u
11 ай бұрын
Doesn't matter who you are or what you say there's always a troll that will disagree just to disagree.
@deanross4090
6 ай бұрын
Great explanation
@olivetree633
3 ай бұрын
Thank you for your input. Your video was very educational and you explained everything so clearly. I appreciate that you took the time to make this video and teach some of us how we trouble shoot alternator problems. Thanks again
Yes you have the best class I've ever seen on KZread! 35 year diesel mechanic here
Super job! U covered all the bases. One tiny thing I might add is the one way clutch that a lot of new alternators have. A Honda Fit gave me a fit. It was slipping and not charging when heavily loaded. Sitting at idle I had 14 volts. When the fans kicked on, it wouldn't keep up. Once again, great teaching!!
@myviews469
8 ай бұрын
could internal regulator be controlled by the computer on car? Because I replaced alternator and battery but from battery terminal i only get 12.5 if i try to disconnect the battery engine turns off.
The best explanation of how a alternator and charge system ever. Easy no BS everyday explanation. Well done
@danp5421
4 жыл бұрын
888
@vincentokorafor11
3 жыл бұрын
I agree
@davidpandohie1777
Жыл бұрын
Very informative thank you for sharing do have a blessed day
The symbol you pointed out on the Ford diagram is actually a capacitor. It's there to absorb voltage spikes mainly to prevent radio interference and to keep the voltage output steady. This is an excellent video--very informative. Keep up the good work!
@penpen5981
6 жыл бұрын
Joseph Wash Ii
@muritalasadiq2837
5 жыл бұрын
Joseph Wash .....yea
Excellent video on how alternators work, troubleshooting and testing. Know you have helped many people work on their own vehicle's. I am currently working on an older vehicle for my grandson. Many thanks.
Your the best at explaining the subject at hand and backing that up with great editing!
Most informative and precise auto repair video I have ever watched! Thank You!
I like the informative demonstration here! Ive worked with alts (inside them) for quite a while and this was great.
Well Done!!!!!!! I’ve been working on my own vehicles for 40 years and I still learned a lot in this video.
I missed a lecture on this at school but your video helped me for the test I have tomorrow. Thank you.
Clearly Amazing .. I have watched so many videos on this .. Yours makes so much sense. I never once had to stop and rewind so I could listen again and again. ThankYou Crystal clear explanation!4
WOW! As a engineer, this is a superb tutorial for the layman / armature. Really NICE job!!
@michael-xe7rz
4 жыл бұрын
Layman?! For anyone seeking wisdom without Attitude.
@RatKindler
3 жыл бұрын
@Bruce Lee If you feel inferior in the presence of an engineer then that's your problem - not his. You need to work on your self esteem issues.
@JoseCruz-qf6ui
3 жыл бұрын
How did you become an engineer?
@MuhammadRafiq-is3fd
3 жыл бұрын
Sometimes those technician will fix the problem that made by shitty enggineer🤭
@nathanbopp6163
2 жыл бұрын
@@michael-xe7rz armature and amateur sound similar, so armature was an acceptable attempt at a pun.
2 Days from my 4th Year Heavy Duty Red seal Exam so brushing up on things - Great Video!!
Awesome video. Very informative. Extremely helpful. Great explanation of working your way throughout the entire charging cycle to make clear what makes it work. Before I could only say motor spins alternator which charges the battery. I know there are a lot of wiring diagrams out there. At least now, I actually can make sense of one too. Super neat knowing what I've learned right now. I'm in the process of installing a car stereo system with multiple amplifiers and batteries. I've seen other car audio youtubers show all the "where's" to make connections but leave out the "why's" or "how" it works. I just want to learn more now. Thank you so much brother.
Wonderfully thorough video and answered my question about the two terminals on the back of the alternator. I knew one was + battery voltage to the stator and the other was to the gauge.
Many thanks for the explanation, clear and to the point as the other vids!
I don't know if you'll see my comment or not, but I'd like to express my gratitude for your effort. The information provided was extremely helpful, and you delved into the subject in a detailed manner. Thank you for your hard work. The information was very beneficial, and you went into the topic in-depth.
Having issues with my dual battery 7.3 idi diesel charging system and I watched a ton of other videos that got me started but nothing worked and left me confused. Your explanation is much more complete and I now feel confident to give it another go tomorrow morning. Many thanks.
Great video and explanation of how an alternator works! Great job with the diagram and taking the alternator apart to show how all of the parts work together!
Best video I've seen so far on testing alternator/regulator/battery! You made it very easy to understand. Thanks!
You are awesome. Man, I have been looking for a thorough explanation of how to troubleshoot my charging system, and this video is, by far, the best tutorial I have found. Thank you.
I feel so dumbed down from so many other ignorant and useless videos here on KZread on this subject so that when I watched yours, it felt like too much information. My brain started to faze lol! This is a great video - finally someone on youtube with a comprehensive explanation about this. I actually learned something - excellent and thank you!
Not only you are a professional, but and excellent instructor, your Service Videos are about the best I have seen. Thanks . Marco.
Excellent video: thorough and well communicated. Thanks for educating and helping so many people!
Brother thank you. I absolutely hate everything electrical and all the problems! 😠 Especially intermiting one's 😤!! You just explained and showed it perfectly, simple and made it nonintimidating. You are a mechanics Mechanics🔧🔩🚗. Thank you 👍
Wow, I 49 years of life I never thought anyone could teach me this material, bro u did an amazing job of explaining this, thank u!
I have a very good understanding of how a alternator works but I must say you did a excellent job of explaining it's job and the inner workings of how it works for the average DIYer out there ! Nice !
@wyattoneable
7 жыл бұрын
Hey Billy R, your everywhere!
@billyr9840
7 жыл бұрын
You Too ! LOL ! No I only hang out on channels where the producer actually has a brain ! And you know as well as I do that someone out there has a better way of doing things and you can always learn something knew !!
@wyattoneable
7 жыл бұрын
This channel is one of the best at explaining things too. See you around Billy!
@BryanChance
6 жыл бұрын
Yep..totally agree. I'm YCM certified (KZread Certified Mechanic) because of the great videos on this channel. ;p
@Direktors
5 жыл бұрын
wil my alternator work if one diode wire is disconnected?
I am a professional repair shop and you are making a great video that has great explanations! Great video, this is super helpful for anyone who has questions about their vehicle's electrical system! nice!
@motologist1917
2 ай бұрын
brother i have ford fiesta mk6 1.4 tdci my problem is that whenever i start the car battery warning light comes on the dash but if i fully press the throttle all the way to 5k rpm it starts charging and light goes offf , plz help me to solve this issue . this problem started when i removed the battery
Great educational & informative video! Even my kids would understand this! You're an excellent teacher, well done!
Man!! that was the best video about alternators. You have a perfect clear knowledge about what you are talking about. nevertheless all other are very good as well. Thanks a lot
Congratulations for the amazing and very well explained video. Thank you very much!
Wow, that was a really thorough explanation. Thank you!
I was impressed with the amount of detail and graphics. Even so, I was hopeful that you would have talked about amperage as well. I just purchased a 270 amp alternator, and I would love to measure AMP's to ensure that it meets or comes close to the specification. You have a dog that demands that I give you a like/thumbs-up and subscribe!
Very thorough and understandable explanation, right down to the details such as where to set your multimeter dial, how the alternator and voltage regulator work, etc. I already knew a lot of this stuff, but your video is an excellent refresher. Plus, I gained quite a bit of knew knowledge from the details you presented. Having the disassembled alternator was an excellent teaching tool. And, the camera work was well done. Keep up the good work - I look forward to viewing more or your instructional videos! Thank you!
@scotforman1894
Жыл бұрын
😅m😅mm😅😅mm😅me my omdear loo😅😅po😅😅
Great explanation here, I'll add this to my favs just in case. Thanks Bro!
Thank you for explaining this in a way I can understand, I am having issues with my electrical system and this video has helped me figure out exactly what is wrong. Many thanks again from Steve in the UK
@TheVwgolfmk1
3 жыл бұрын
@Bruce Lee it was the alternator, bought a reconditioned one and it's fine now.
That was a really excellent tutorial: very informative with no waffle. Thank you very much
@rattlerjake2362
5 жыл бұрын
It's actually refreshing to watch a video that explains the SUBJECT instead of wasting most of the video on worthless chatting. Instead of youtube purging political content they should remove videos that waste a lot of time blabbing and providing incomplete or incorrect info.. We really don't need 50 videos showing the same subject.
This is the best explanation I have seen on the internet. I just used your video to explain to my pre teens, as were experimenting with rebuilding an alternator.
Wow this is the most informative and best explained video on any topic I have ever seen. Thank you.
Simple, clear, concise ! The best as always. Thank you.
Great stuff, no BS video. I am tired of other dudes, kwaking and waking all kind of BS before the actual tiny-miny information they provide. Keep it up man!!
this is outstanding. you videos over the years have really become valuable to the driveway mechanic like me.
Thanks brother your videos are always well done and explained in the best details to follow along with keep it up and thanks again for the(correct way ) on your repairs.🦅
This gentlemen give really the best explanation how things should be going on. Thank you and go bless you!
The absolute best video on youtube by far. Thank you for taking the time to make this!
Yeah, you are right mentioning operation of charging warming lamp which includes both S terminal and L terminal of the same connector. These terminals which are on the same connector are often overlooked when diagnosing alternator. Relying only on reading voltage at battery terminal is not enough for thorough diagnosing, especially when issues arise during the period of charging warming lamp.
Amazing video and with a wonderful explanation! Good job!
Great work...well done......nice clear explained. Thank you very much Cheers from Denmark 🇩🇰
The best video, I ve ever seen. Many thanks
The best video I've seen on explaining this, thanks!
This is so good clear and to the point. I would love to more lessons on this. Please i would love to know how to identify the the cables on the alternator. Identifying the cables to know which one is for the ignition switch, for the lamp and for the battery sensing.
Thanks for explaining thoroughly about electrical system in automobiles.
Great video! Thorough explanation of how an alternator works and how to test. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise! God bless!
BRO. YOU HAVE A GIFT . THANK YOU FOR BREAKING IT DOWN SO THE UNLEARNED CAN GET EDUCATED ,WOW , THANK YOU..
Excellent overview with great detail on the operation and testing of an alternator!! Great Job
Great explanation to a complicated product. I am subscribing to this channel for lifetime!!!
Extremely helpful, thankyou. So much better than anything else I came across on the internet.
THANK YOU! I was banging my head on this problem for a week, and then found your video!Very helpful!
Best explanation brother i have ever found yet with all tests explained simply and slowly. Thanks
So very clearly & well explained - Many thanks !
One of the best and most informative videos I have ever watched on YT. Very very good.
Damn, you are a smart man! I've taken multiple physics classes and I still don't understand this electricity Bull. Thanks for breaking it down. I just got to re-watch 10 more times
Best Alternator video EVER!! The diagram and the way you explain this is clear and easy for everyone to understand. Be sure to mention how to use those multimeters though... Thank you so much :) Subscribed. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you very much for your clear and good explanation also the good tips and great camera works.
Awesome explanation on how to test, diagnose, and fix a problem with the alternator. Excellent video and thanks 😊 👍
Excellent presentation! Much appreciated. You're a great teacher!
One more vote for this being the best charging system video out there.
You did a great job!!! Congratulations Man and You must know that i m waiting for the next super cool videos about how to repairs cars! 😎🙌👍
@rogeliomanicat1542
3 жыл бұрын
Good teacher I Salute very informative God bless us all 🙏
First time watching and I was very impressed with your relaxed confident knowledge. I learned a lot and appreciate your valuable time sharing your expertise with us!!!
Very nice. Enjoy the circuit diagram, explanation of the rectifier, diodes, alternator, windings etc.
Well Done!! That was an excellent instructional video. Thorough, methodical and very logical way of troubleshooting techniques that anyone can follow and adopt to any diagnosing. Very well done! I appreciate you sharing your knowledge and experience.
dude you explain and show things very well thanks and it's rare I give a review
Here's a tale of two stories about alternators that I ran across. The first is my GFs car. We just had the valve cover gaskets replaced after they have been leaking for a few months. I then proceeded to clean off the engine, top and bottom. I used Simple Green and a tire foam cleaner then blew off all the crud with my compressor. Her alternator was putting out 13.5 vdc to 14 vdc but after the cleaning, it stayed at 14.5 vdc. The second was my old Pathfinder. During the winter, I started the car up and when I turned on the heater blower, it sounded like a supercharger! Then I turned on the headlights and they went super bright then blew! This Pathfinder had a wire from the output of the alternator to the positive clamp on the battery. The continuity from the alternator to the battery was bad at that connection so all the alternator output was going right back into the wiring harness. On a side note, the dealer wanted to change the whole wiring harness in the engine bay. I found an auto electric shop that changed out the positive connector for $20.
Awesome Info.. Going to try this morning on my 01 Chevy S10 Pickup Truck.. Truck started yesterday but did not start on previous tries... Zero Error Codes on OBD Actron Tester
Great explanation of this system. Thanks!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience. The information you shared has made me a better at diagnostics.
Excellent educational videos always. Thanks for your time efforts and research.
Great Job explaining the different methods to test an alternator. Will definitely use this valuable info
Hey, nobody ever explain this so good. Good Job Bro.
Thanks to Ratchets And Wrenches for giving good information about alternator. Thanks for teaching in easy way.
What a grand explanation of an auto charging system!Thank you
You are a good teacher. Thank you for being thorough!
Thanks for Excellent Video. If vehicle is running, you can put screw driver to back center of alternator. you will feel it is magnetized if alternator is working.
Thank you. This was good. I have to tell you about a bad battery that had a bad cell. I didn't have my load tester but I did have my meter. To make a long story short. I ended up testing each cell of the battery and found one that was shorted out. It through me for a loop at first because of the goofy readings I was getting on the meter. Love you site. Aloha
Best explanation I've heard so far. Easy to follow tests.
Great information👍 Just subscribed to your channel 😁 With your help, I fixed my own alternator by replacing the voltage regulator and brushes on a 94 Lexus.
nice explanation sir, you did really make me learn something about alternator, how it work and how to diagnose if it has gone wrong already,, thankz, thumbs up..!
Thx man! I've been working on cars for ten years an never knew how easy it was to check ground/voltage drop n narrow down the possible culprits
There a lot repair videos on KZread. A few are really good. This video is excellent!! Next level!
Good info, and clearly explained. Thanks.
Thanks for that information and I hope it will help me in finding the problem with my 1999 Ford Explorer and why it won't start now.
Thanks for this mate, excellent work.
Excellent video. Very descriptive, makes testing an alternator very easy.
Great Video Man, Thanks a lot.
Excellent in depth video on alternators! Thank-You! Jim
Fantstic Video, and THANK YOU for helping me diagnoze my 03 Odyssey Alternator Problem. I purchased a new battery and after 2 days it died. so this video helped me to root cause the problem. Gracius. Keep up the good work and helping people who are motivated and never get cheated by Crooked Mechs. Any way my background being in electronics and understand the dildes, coils winding and the electro magnetic filed. Repaing my own car is my hobby, becuase i get ripped off by mechanics, who think all are dumb.
This was hands down one of the most informative videos I have ever seen...... 👍
great info, I am now a subscriber. Thanks!
Your vid helped me determine that the new alternator I got was bad. Many thanks!