06 GS430 alternator replacement?
06-10-18, 06:05 PM
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
06 GS430 alternator replacement?
My 06 GS430 just broke 100k miles on the original alternator. As far as I can tell all the electronics are functioning fine. Is it a good idea to replace the alternator as a preventative measure? If an alternator fails while driving, will the car complete shut-off?
06-13-18, 08:38 AM
#2
If alternator is faulty, you'll see voltage drop dramatically, causing the car's battery to drain (even quicker with AC on), and the car will send off battery lights and shut off.
If it's aint broke, don't replace it.... I have mine's at 130k or 140k.... HARSHLY abused, and it is still functioning fine. As a safety measure, you can always buy one of the cheap cigarette lighter multimeters. If the voltage dips below 13.5V, then you will know it's almost time to change the alternator (to prepare you for your funds).
Just know, that these meters are not 100% accurate. They're just there to give you a ballpark of whats going on.
If it's aint broke, don't replace it.... I have mine's at 130k or 140k.... HARSHLY abused, and it is still functioning fine. As a safety measure, you can always buy one of the cheap cigarette lighter multimeters. If the voltage dips below 13.5V, then you will know it's almost time to change the alternator (to prepare you for your funds).
Just know, that these meters are not 100% accurate. They're just there to give you a ballpark of whats going on.
06-20-18, 04:53 PM
#4
To be perfectly honest with you D1GP. The cigarette lighters are not accuate.
I forgot to mention that the cigarette lighters might show 13.5 while your car is actually outputting 13.8v+. There's two factors in this:
A) Your cigarette lighter doesn't take a direct voltage draw from the battery. It goes through fuses and more wires, which act like a resistor, causing the voltage to drop a few hundred millivolts.
B) The cheap voltmeters that you buy on ebay/amazon just give you a ROUGH ballpark, not 100% accurate.
To be sure you ARE getting 13.4V, I would take an actually multimeter (the $5 ones at harbor freight work just fine), and measure voltage directly at the battery.
My car, on, no audio or anything on, will sit resting at 13.8V after warm-up. (It is 14.0-14.2V at startup, depending on how cold it is outside). Day OR night, it is the same voltage. It might drop between 13.6-13.7 but no less than 13.8 in MY CASE.
FWIW: If your voltage is truly dropped to 13.4, I would start off by getting your battery checked first before your alternator. You can do this at your local auto parts store for free.
GL! PM me if you need anything else, I'm not online as often as I'd like to be anymore. Best to contact me via PM and it'll fwd to my email to notify me my folks here need help!
I forgot to mention that the cigarette lighters might show 13.5 while your car is actually outputting 13.8v+. There's two factors in this:
A) Your cigarette lighter doesn't take a direct voltage draw from the battery. It goes through fuses and more wires, which act like a resistor, causing the voltage to drop a few hundred millivolts.
B) The cheap voltmeters that you buy on ebay/amazon just give you a ROUGH ballpark, not 100% accurate.
To be sure you ARE getting 13.4V, I would take an actually multimeter (the $5 ones at harbor freight work just fine), and measure voltage directly at the battery.
My car, on, no audio or anything on, will sit resting at 13.8V after warm-up. (It is 14.0-14.2V at startup, depending on how cold it is outside). Day OR night, it is the same voltage. It might drop between 13.6-13.7 but no less than 13.8 in MY CASE.
FWIW: If your voltage is truly dropped to 13.4, I would start off by getting your battery checked first before your alternator. You can do this at your local auto parts store for free.
GL! PM me if you need anything else, I'm not online as often as I'd like to be anymore. Best to contact me via PM and it'll fwd to my email to notify me my folks here need help!
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