How do I test my alternator?

[GETGONE]

NOT TRUE! Yellow tops are deep cycles, yes, but they are designed for vehicles that sit for long periods without being started and vehicles with big stereo systems that drain batteries. That's why I went with the yellow top, since my car may sit for a couple weeks before I start it again. I have a red top in my V6 and that is meant as a starting battery that gets used often.

[lozanoa11]

ohh i figured it was for a dd sorry. But most deep cylcles work better if drained and recharded. Some times ive heard that the capacity will get better when you drain it and recharge. I would get the alt checked out just to be shure. they should be able to hook a VAT to the alt and battery while your there

[OIF1VET]

It's probably a dead cell in the Optima. My dad had that problem. It wouldn't hold a charge for more than a week or two if it wasn't started. Once it was charged it would start the car and would be fine. My yellow top died last year because after Autorama I didn't take it out and it went dead from sitting in the car. I took it out this year and it went dead from sitting for 3+ months. I haven't tried starting it again since I put it in the car and charged it 2 weeks ago.

Yeah, this is my second yellow top. Last one only lasted 6 months, I've had this one for a little over a year.. I'm wondering if the yellows don't have an issue..

[meissen]

Definitely get the alternator checked. I just went and had mine checked a few hours ago. My car was doing the EXACT same thing yours is doing. The regulator on my alternator was bad and was making the voltage all over the place -- sometimes too little, sometimes just right, sometimes TOO much. On my way there, it went from being 12v to being at 18v -- thank god it's only an eighth of a mile drive to Murrays from my house, including the distance in the subdivision. But yeah, the regulator was what was bad on the alternator. I bought a new one and started to uninstall my old one when I realized the alt they gave me is the wrong one.

[OIF1VET]

Definitely get the alternator checked. I just went and had mine checked a few hours ago. My car was doing the EXACT same thing yours is doing. The regulator on my alternator was bad and was making the voltage all over the place -- sometimes too little, sometimes just right, sometimes TOO much. On my way there, it went from being 12v to being at 18v -- thank god it's only an eighth of a mile drive to Murrays from my house, including the distance in the subdivision. But yeah, the regulator was what was bad on the alternator. I bought a new one and started to uninstall my old one when I realized the alt they gave me is the wrong one.

Will do, thanks!!

[MP81]

An alarm will drain the battery too. Get a Battery Tender and just keep it plugged into that. I need to get one for mine and wire up an outlet on that side of the garage.

Yup.

The battery will usually go dead in a week if it's not charged and you have an alarm.

Probably your drain right there.

[BP_Z28]

Definitely get the alternator checked. I just went and had mine checked a few hours ago. My car was doing the EXACT same thing yours is doing. The regulator on my alternator was bad and was making the voltage all over the place -- sometimes too little, sometimes just right, sometimes TOO much. On my way there, it went from being 12v to being at 18v -- thank god it's only an eighth of a mile drive to Murrays from my house, including the distance in the subdivision. But yeah, the regulator was what was bad on the alternator. I bought a new one and started to uninstall my old one when I realized the alt they gave me is the wrong one.

isnt that always a pain in the ass!

[meissen]

Your drain is going to be even more prominent if the alternator is putting out lower voltage compounded with the constant drain of the alarm.

[GETGONE]

I REALLY need to listen to my own advice! I went to take the car out for a cruise today. DEAD BATTERY!!!! It was 2 weeks of sitting since I started it up last. I jumped it and drove it about 10 miles to get something to eat. I thought that it would be enough to charge it....NOPE!!! Came out from eating and DEAD BATTERY AGAIN!!! Luckily I threw my jumper cables in the back just in case. I got a kid to give me a jump. The idiot didn't even know where the battery was in the car(Chrysler 300M). I knew it wasn't under the hood since my mom has a Concorde and the battery is either under the rear seat or in the trunk(I forget which). Luckily it had jump ports under the hood. Got it fired up and then didn't shut it off again until after I had driven for about 60 miles. Then it started fine. Walmart didn't have a Battery Tender. I have to keep looking for one.

[MP81]

I know when I go to Atlanta for the championship event for robotics, I'll make sure my car is started and/or driven every day...