1998 SE 2.4L Alternator

[ericv1984]

Yesterday after getting dinner my battery light came on, so I took the car to AutoZone and got the battery tested. The battery was good but the guy said the alternator was bad cause it was reading at 12.5V and he said it should be at 14.5V. I left AutoZone and on the way home the battery light went off so I was gonna take it back the next day and get the alternator re-checked. I had to go back out later so I went to O'reilly while I was out and had the alternator checked again, it read at 12.51-12.53V and the guy said my alternator was bad.

But all the alternators I'm seeing online say they are 12 volts, so I'm wondering, does that reading mean my alternator is bad or should it be fine since a new one says it's 12 volts?

 

[melsg5]

It's not putting out enough volts to keep a battery charged, it's says 12 volts because most cars today use 12 volt systems as opposed to a 6 volt systems which were used years ago and may now be discontinued.

 

[ericv1984]

It's not putting out enough volts to keep a battery charged, it's says 12 volts because most cars today use 12 volt systems as opposed to a 6 volt systems which were used years ago and may now be discontinued.

I went to O'reilly and he pretty much told me the same thing. I picked one up from the junk yard then went back to O'reilly to get it tested and it passed. Will have it put in tomorrow.

Thanks.

 

[melsg5]

good luck!