Alternator question

[Daca214]

Hey gents

so i was driving the regal yesterday and i noticed the battery gauge never jumped up. It stayed approx 12.1 or 2
Last time it didnt jump up to over 13 until i was driving at 55 mph. I parked for a few to run in the supermarket and when i came out i got tick tick tick then start. It struggled. At first i thought starter. I put the battery on the trickle charger overnight and she started up today

so my question is why isnt the alternator charging at 35-45mph or lower RPM? Obviously the battery needed it

could it be faulty or is this how they are designed?
Thx

 

[olds307 and 403]

I would try a new voltage regulator first. My last 94 12si reman alternator wouldn't charge unless I revved it up.

 

[Daca214]

I would try a new voltage regulator first. My last 94 12si reman alternator wouldn't charge unless I revved it up.

Yeah thats what mine seems to do sometimes also
I just asked my dad earlier and he said the same. I will try that. Thx

 

[Local Hero]

That's how mine operates too. Stays around 12 or below until a certain RPM and then jumps to over 13. Not worried about it.

 

[pontiacgp]

I don't trust the stock gauges to give more than an estimate on what the alternator is doing

 

[Gonzo1970]

I would also recommend checking your grounds. Cars get as old as ours are, those grounds ain't what they used to be.

Takes about 10 minutes to remove them, clean them up and put them back.. Solved quite a few of my electrical gremlins.

-Gonz

 

[Daca214]

That's how mine operates too. Stays around 12 or below until a certain RPM and then jumps to over 13. Not worried about it.

problem is if i dont hit that RPM, like over the weekend, the battery will run down and die on me. i dont drive it often and not on the highway.

 

[Daca214]

I would also recommend checking your grounds. Cars get as old as ours are, those grounds ain't what they used to be.

Takes about 10 minutes to remove them, clean them up and put them back.. Solved quite a few of my electrical gremlins.

-Gonz

i did that on most of the grounds i found when I pulled the motor

 

[Daca214]

I don't trust the stock gauges to give more than an estimate on what the alternator is doing

I have equus gauges. it seems pretty accurate, i verified readings with my meter.

 

[pontiacgp]

I wouldn't drive it before fixing the problem, a bad alternator is hard on the battery and could ruin it. Most retail places will test your alternator and you can buy what you need to fix it or buy a new/rebuilt alternator. I deal with a local shop who rebuilds alternator and starters and I find him better than any retail store