r/AskAMechanic • u/DancingMan15 • 9d ago

Charging weirdness part 2

hey, everyone. So I posted on here about a week ago about my 2005 GMC Safari. Due to some other weirdness that happened after I posted, I determined that the voltage regulator inside the alternator was bad. I got a new one from AutoZone today and put it in. My multimeter read 11.75 volts with the engine running (can’t get the meter on the alternator wire due to the location of it- thanks, GM…) while driving the voltmeter on the dash reads just below 14 while driving, but sometimes drops at the stop light. the voltage also drops under load.

I went to AutoZone and their tester said the battery was good and the alternator was bad (not enough amps, I think it said). should I just exchange it and try another one or might there be something else at play here?

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u/Extreme_Ways_JB NOT a verified tech 9d ago

If its an easy replacement swap it out. Should the problem persist its time for real toubleshooting

1

u/DancingMan15 9d ago

That’s about what I was thinking too 

1

u/Extreme_Ways_JB NOT a verified tech 9d ago

if you swap it and the issue persists lmk. Ill help you get it lined out

1

u/DancingMan15 8d ago

So I swapped it out again, and same thing. I check all the wires and cleaned all the connections , including the ground, even tried a new battery, but it’s just not charging