How do you test an alternator to see if it's bad?

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asked Jun 27, 2018 in Repairs/Maintenance by Sharlene (370 points)
How do you test an alternator to see if it's bad?

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answered Jun 27, 2018 by Grahlu (51,270 points)
A quick easy way to test if your alternator is bad and not charging is to start your car up and let it idle for a few minutes and then once it's idled for a few minutes remove one of the battery cables.

If the engine dies after disconnecting the battery then most likely your alternator is faulty since a good alternator on a vehicle should keep your engine running with or without a battery hooked up to the engine.

You can also take your vehicle to Autozone or some other parts stores and they will usually check and test your alternator for free.

Or take the vehicle to a mechanic to have them run a test on your alternator but the mechanic might charge for the test which is understandable.

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