What causes a charging system to overcharge?
Alternator overcharge is caused by a defective voltage regulator, and the only solution is to have the alternator refurbished or replaced.
Can a voltage regulator overcharge?
Check for a faulty regulator if you find that the voltage regulator works like an electrical current that runs volts through the battery. If the voltage regulator goes bad, it can overcharge your car battery.
What would make an alternator overcharge?
Improperly jump-starting the vehicle can send a surge through the battery that destroys one or more cells in the battery or shorts it out. This surge disrupts the wiring in the alternator, causing an overcharging condition.
How do you check if an alternator is overcharging?
Symptoms of Your Car Alternator Overcharging:
- Car Battery Voltage Gauge Reading is High. You notice a high voltage reading on your cars vehicle’s dashboard.
- Car Battery Gets Hot When Charging.
- Your Headlights Burn Out Quickly.
- Your Car Battery is Bulging on Sides.
What causes an alternator to put out High voltage?
If you are getting more than 2 volts above base voltage, most likely your alternator is over-charging the battery or the battery is faulty. Other potential problems are a faulty voltage regulator or a problem in the charging system wiring.
What does it mean when your alternator is overcharging?
Alternators that overcharge will typically produce excess voltage to the battery, making the battery case swell up, become very hot and lose its electrolyte through boiling. Improperly jump-starting the vehicle can send a surge through the battery that destroys one or more cells in the battery or shorts it out.
What happens when an alternator is overcharging?
The build-up of hydrogen gas from an overcharging alternator causes your battery to swell. This also causes the battery to leak highly flammable liquid electrolyte, which is very dangerous. Please see a specialist right away if you notice this happening.