Electrical Help Please

Mike69cuda said

Here what I would do:

1. Check the battery voltage while the car is off. It should read about 12-12.5 volts.

2. Start the car. Check battery voltage. It should go up about 2 volts. Should be about 13.5 to 14.5 volts. If it doesn't go up it is not charging. Could be a number of things including alternator or regulator.

3. Start the car and take the negative battery cable off. If the car dies, the alternator is not charging. If it stays running you alternator / voltage are likely ok.

4. Take the alternator off and have it checked at auto parts store. If it tests good, buy a regulator and see if that fixes it.

if your car cranks good when you jump it, the starter is probably ok.

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OK Mike, Here's what I did............
1. I checked the voltage with a meter at the battery with the car off. It was about 12.5v.

2. Then I started the car and it went to about 14.25v.

3. Then I started the car and removed the negative battery cable. The car didn't die. I let it run 5 min. or so.

Seems the alternator and voltage regulator are ok? The battery has a 6/2020 sticker on it so it IS 4 years old and it HAS had a problem where it keeps going dead according to the Seller I bought the car from. SO maybe we're talking about buying a battery here and seeing what happens? With the voltage going up so much while the car is running it makes me believe the alternator is working. How about you?