What should my charger voltage be when the engine is off?

Get a good-quality voltmeter or multimeter and test your battery’s state of charge. The voltmeter should read around 12.6 volts with the engine off and 14-15 volts when the engine is running. If voltage is below 13.5, there’s a good chance the alternator is not keeping up with your battery’s charging needs.

What to do if your car charger cable is bad?

Take into account the outward appearance and age of the battery when deciding whether to replace it. Also, inspect your battery cables and make sure they are in good shape. Bad cables will not deliver the full current flow needed to operate properly.

What causes a car battery to stop charging?

This is probably caused by a faulty cell in the battery. Batteries have a limited life-span of around 3-4 years. Most car batteries cannot be serviced, the best solution is to replace the battery. Check out our best car battery buying guide for help with choosing a new battery.

What to do if your timing belt won’t turn over?

When you turn the key, you might hear the starter motor engage, but since the timing belt operates the crank and camshaft, it will not turn over. Obviously, if the car won’t start, a phone call to a mechanic is usually the first step.

What happens if you ignore your timing belt?

Ignoring your timing belt can come with a high cost. Timing belts don’t often snap, but when they do, it can cause piston damage, ruined cylinder heads, and engine valve damage. Probably, when you think of your engine, you picture the valves and pistons, but you don’t think much about what keeps them in good working order.

What causes a car battery to not hold a charge?

2. A problem with your battery is causing it to not hold a charge. To check this, wait 12 to 24 hours after charging to the full voltage, keep the battery out of the vehicle and measure its voltage.

Is there a problem with the battery hold down strap?

Even if you are experiencing issues with your battery’s hold down strap, there is good news. First off, these components happen to be among those that are more affordable and easier to work with for most motorists. Although they are not known to fail often, these fixtures can be affected over time by factors such as excessive jostling.

What to do if your car battery stops charging?

Problem: Engine starts OK, but the battery does not stay charged. Solution #1: Focus on your battery first. If your vehicle has stopped running, jumpstart the engine, remove the jumper cables as quickly as possible, and wait. If the vehicle keeps running after a period of time, there’s likely a problem with your battery.

What happens if your car charger is not working?

Without your charging system in proper working order, you’ll eventually find yourself stranded…without lights…and without good tunes. Gasp. To help you avoid such a situation, we’ve put together a basic guide to tracking down potential charging system issues. Problem: Engine starts OK, but the battery does not stay charged.

What should I do if my alternator is not charging?

The alternator normally lasts longer than the battery. There are some easy steps you can go through to check the function of your alternator. Tap the alternator carefully with a hammer while the engine is runnin; if the charging goes back to normal, the coals inside it are worn out.

Why is my car charging system not working?

Bad cables will not deliver the full current flow needed to operate properly. Solution #2: If the battery won’t hold its charge and your engine stalls out, then it’s time to turn your attention to the alternator.

How to do a charging system check using simple tests?

Make a Visual Inspection of the Charging System 1. Check the charging system for warning indicators: 2. Check the alternator drive belt or serpentine belt: 3. Check your battery and battery terminals: 4. Now check the wires: 5. Check the alternator for unusual noises:

How many volts does an Alt-s charger have?

One is a white w/blue stripe that is fed from the 7.5A ALT-S fuse and always has 12 volts to ground when the car is off or on. The red w/blue stripe wire comes off the 10A GUAGE fuse and should have 12 volts to ground when the car ignition is on only (for regulator). The last wire is a signal for the ECM and is a blue w/red stripe wire.

How to test a car battery charging system?

Testing the Charging System Testing the Charging System • Be sure to follow safety precautions to protect the vehicle and yourself • Exhaust Hoses and Fender covers are often neglected Make sure the battery is O.K. • Load test the battery to know if it is reliable If the battery is not fully charged: 1. It may not pass the load test 2.

What should my charger voltage be when the engine is off?