New Alternator but now Battery Warning Light

[voodo1]

Sorry for the double post - I'm new to the site.


I had a problem with having to jump start my battery, but it tested good. The battery was dead last night, so I trickle charged it to full capacity.

Turns out (by AutoZone tester) that the Alternator was not putting out enough [COLOR=#ff4400! important][COLOR=#ff4400! important]voltage[/COLOR][/COLOR]. Because of this, I replaced the alternator today (harder than it looked in the Haynes manual - had to remove the steering pump) and everything is hooked back up.

Jumped on the Interstate and as soon as I hit 60 MPH, the battery discharge warning light started flickering on the dash. If the RPMs get above 2K, the battery status goes to the top line and the discharge warning light comes on (just flickers unless I am really accelerating hard).

At idle, the battery status is in the middle of the arc. If I keep the A/C on, the load holds the volts down where the light doesn't come on until much higher RPMs.

2001 Sequoia Limited [COLOR=#ff4400! important][COLOR=#ff4400! important]4X4[/COLOR][/COLOR] with 100K miles

Any ideas?

Took back to AutoZone and they say the battery is good and the alternator is working properly.

[los211]

Sounds like the voltage regulator isn't working right. The voltage should not go above 14.5-15. If your gauge in the truck is maxing out then the output of the alternator is too high. The other thing to check is all you wire connections related to the charging system. I recently had an issue with a vehicle at work that had a high out put at any rpm above idle and 15vdc at idle. Some one else decided to change the alternator but it still had the same issue. This vehicle has an external voltage regulater. I found it was not working off idle. replaced it and everything went back to normal. In your case the regulator may be inside the alternator. But definately check the wires and cables.