Alternator Dead!

[Swordsman]

Alternator Dead! (helped already)

On Saturday, while driving back from visiting in-laws, I saw my battery charge light come on, and noticed a voltage drop on the voltmeter. So, Sunday morning, I took the truck to Autozone (which was the biggest mistake) to get the battery and charging system check, which they do for free. The guy told me my battery was good but low on charge, but didn't have me turn on the truck to check anything else. They also charged the battery for free, which took a little over 30 minutes. However, while putting the battery back in, and I was inside looking over their deals on air filters and oil change kits, the rep put it in backwards, and I didn't check after him. So I got in, and tried to start the truck, and got this obnoxious whine. Tried twice more, then got out and opened up the hood and told him the battery was backward. He fixed that, the truck started up fine, the manager came out, and they retested, this time telling me my alternator was bad. I was pissed, and was going to check out alternators at the carquest down the road. Got 20 seconds down the road, noticed my radio didn't work, and they replaced the fuse for me and it came right on.

So after all that, my questions are: How likely is it that this guy screwed up my alternator, bearing in mind that I was getting a charge warning light before? Second, if it is likely that they screwed up my alternator, what should be my course of action?

Thanks in advance for any help, I'm planning on talking to a mechanic too, but I wanted some outside opinions.

 

[Swordsman]

this is a 1999 2.5l 4 cylinder ranger, by the way.

 

[zamos]

Sounds like the alternator was shot before you went to Autozone.

 

[Swordsman]

thanks; I pulled off the alternator and checked the regulator, I had a brush worn down so far that it popped off the spring when I took off the regulator. got it fixed for 20 bucks, popped the alternator back in, charged the battery, and was good to go.

 

[igiveup]

Hello

30 min for a charge on a dead battery is bullshit. A properly charged battery is 12.45 volts or higher and it can take up to 12hrs for a proper charge. Easy way to check your alt is take a volt meter and check your battery with motor off. Then start your car and see what the volt meter reads. Some cars need to have the motor reved up to about 1500 rpm before its starts to charge. Now did you have your battery load tested? Using a volt meter is just a basic check. I was taught this stuff when I was a sales rep for Exide Batterys.

igiveup

 

[Swordsman]

thanks for the information; the battery wasn't dead when I took it to autozone. the test they did both times was just a basic check; they tested with the motor off, charged the battery(nearly an hour the second time), then tested with the motor on. I only went to autozone because they were the only ones who would do it for free in my area. what would be the best way to charge my battery properly? should I buy a charger that plugs into my wall socket? I did drive with the bad regulator for a day, wearing down the battery. I noticed the voltage was still a little low after the new regulator, but I don't know what rpm my battery would start charging.