Replaced voltage regulator, voltage still low, should I replace altern

[ninsei]

Hi. My symptoms are low voltage when the engine is running: 11.9 to 12.3. i removed the alternator and replace the voltage regulator with a new part and replaced the original alternator: same deal. Could anything else be causing this beside the battery (went thru two of those already), the voltage regulator, or the alternator?

And if it is the alternator, where can i get a new one without a core charge?

Any help is appreciated

[JFP in PA]

Hi. My symptoms are low voltage when the engine is running: 11.9 to 12.3. i removed the alternator and replace the voltage regulator with a new part and replaced the original alternator: same deal. Could anything else be causing this beside the battery (went thru two of those already), the voltage regulator, or the alternator?

And if it is the alternator, where can i get a new one without a core charge?

Any help is appreciated

Pull the alternator out and take it one of the parts stores that advertise they will load test it free of charge. There are other component's in the unit that can fail. I would also check all your cables for corrosion (common problem) which leads to higher resistance and reduced voltage (might want to do a search on this, been covered multiple times).

As for no core charge, for that you are going to have to shop around, most parts outlets are going to charge you a core charge.

[JasonStern]

And if it is the alternator, where can i get a new one without a core charge?

Most online vendors do not have a core charge.

[Silver_TT]

It is likely a cable causing your voltage drop. You said the battery is brand new and the alternator is new as well, correct? As JFP stated, this has been covered numerous times. As a matter of fact, I would bet it's one of the top 5 or 10 most common problems with these vehicles and posted on this site. The good news is it's easy and cheap to fix. Ahsai and JFP recently posted some really good information on the cable(s) and how to isolate what component is causing the voltage drop.

Assuming you don't need another alternator since you said you already replaced the old one. I wouldn't worry too much about the core charge. I recently fixed the same issue you are describing (I've seen some of your other posts related to this issue so I'm aware of what's going on) and, in my case, it required a new wiring harness and new alternator both. I think I paid $350 for the alternator and paid a core deposit but sent the old alternator core back the same day after I replaced it. They had refunded the core charge back to my card before the original charge even went from pending to a charge. If you want to keep your old core for whatever reason, you are just going to pay more....

Edited July 24, 2013 by Silver_TT

[Ahsai]

To find out where you lose voltage, check post #9 here

http://www.renntech.org/forums/topic/44471-voltage-regulator-affected-by-heat-hence-low-voltage/#entry240001

[ninsei]

Thx, just to close this out, i replaced that Y-cable from starter to alternator and jump post/connection and all is good now. thx.