Should I replace the generator?
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Hi everyone. I have a 1993 lexus vcv10 car in good work condition and never replace the generator before. Last week I found the battery is low (A little hard to start the engine), so I take down the battery and charged it. Then I put a voltmeter on cigarette lighter socket to monitor the voltage. I find the voltage is 13.9V when cold start, after 10 minute engine running, the voltage is 13.3V. Then I stop the engine ,wait for half hour, then restart it, the voltage is still 13.3V, the voltmeter didn't change even if I step on the accelerater. But if I park the car for several hours, the voltage is always 13.9V on start.
Should I change the generator or check something? Or can I manually adjust the voltage to 14V? Thanks.
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Latest update:
I replaced the generator and now the votage is always around 14V and everything is fine. I test the charge current, it is around 2.5A (it is only 0.5A before), is it ok?
Should I change the generator or check something? Or can I manually adjust the voltage to 14V? Thanks.
------------
Latest update:
I replaced the generator and now the votage is always around 14V and everything is fine. I test the charge current, it is around 2.5A (it is only 0.5A before), is it ok?
Last edited by pirate2050; 01-19-14 at 03:55 AM.
#2
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Sounds more like a battery problem to me.
Either way you should have your charging system under load before replacing anything.
How old is your Battery? If your battery is more than 4 years old, you can take a chance and replace it blindly, as it's probably at the end of its life anyways.
Phil
Either way you should have your charging system under load before replacing anything.
How old is your Battery? If your battery is more than 4 years old, you can take a chance and replace it blindly, as it's probably at the end of its life anyways.
Phil
Last edited by PFB; 01-12-14 at 10:40 AM.
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Sounds more like a battery problem to me.
Either way you should have your charging system under load before replacing anything.
How old is your Battery? If your battery is more than 4 years old, you can take a chance and replace it blindly, as it's probably at the end of its life anyways.
Phil
Either way you should have your charging system under load before replacing anything.
How old is your Battery? If your battery is more than 4 years old, you can take a chance and replace it blindly, as it's probably at the end of its life anyways.
Phil
Thanks very much for your reply, my battery is 2 years old. The battery seems ok after charge, now it is work fine for a week
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#4
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Thanks very much for your reply, my battery is 2 years old. The battery seems ok after charge, now it is work fine for a week
The only issue is the lower voltage when engine hot. I notice if the engine speed is under 750RPM, the voltage is lower than 12.5V at night(with all the light turning on), and I can hear noise in generator sometimes. So I think maybe the generator is too old to supply so much power for all equipment :-)
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Also check the alternator belts to make sure its not loose, worn out, or slipping.
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Thanks a lot. I asked the local 4S of lexus in China, there'e no repairman know how to checking the charging system on such an old car .I will continue monitor the voltage, seems not a big problem.
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By the way, I was in China a few months go. Amazing country. Amazing people.
Phil
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I replaced the generator and now the votage is always around 14V and everything is fine. I test the charge current, it is around 2.5A (it is only 0.5A before), is it ok?
#11
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I'm still not convinced that there was something wrong with your alternator, but it looks like all is ok now.
The amount of amps that an alternator puts out varies with how much is needed to keep the battery charged, as well as how much current your car uses at any one time. So the number of amps will vary from almost 0 amps to 70 amps. it's not a fixed number. What's more important is the battery voltage.
Phil
The amount of amps that an alternator puts out varies with how much is needed to keep the battery charged, as well as how much current your car uses at any one time. So the number of amps will vary from almost 0 amps to 70 amps. it's not a fixed number. What's more important is the battery voltage.
Phil
Last edited by PFB; 01-19-14 at 03:21 PM.
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