I am trying to determine if everything in my charging system is working right. I have a multimeter, but do not know which setting to put it on to test the voltage on the battery. I also want to verify that my alternator is charging the battery and that the battery is accepting the charge.

Can someone please help me with this

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You need DC voltage. A battery sitting will be around 13V. Charging, will be higher, of course.

If your battery is going dead while sitting, check the current being drawn by your car while off. Do this by using the ammeter function of your multimeter (goes in series with your negative cable).

 

It was 12.5 while sitting. While I jumped it off it sat at 14.5. When I took the jumper cables off it went back down to 12.5. How do I test to see if the alternator is charging the battery?

 

Set the multimeter to the lowest voltage rating that is over 12 vdc.
All meters are different so an example would be if the settings are 10 volts DC,30 volts DC,150 volts DC 300 volts DC, you would use the 30 vdc setting.
To test the battery check the voltage with the key turned "off".This should give you somewhere around 12.3 vdc or above.If you have less than that the battery needs charged or is dead.Running voltage with everything turned off should be above 13.5 vdc.A top notch charging system can supply enough power to keep the running voltage above 13.5 even with everything in the car turned on.
Here's a link to some really good battery chargers.I have one of these and Iain't bought a newbattery for several years.
http://www.vdcelectronics.com/automotive.htm

 

So If I am getting continual decrease while it is running than the alternator is not charging, or the battery is not holding the charge? How do I tell which one it is?

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If the voltage is dropping as the engine is running I'm going to say it's time for a new alternator.It's a commonly held belief around here to stay away from rebuilds at the autoparts discount stores and to buy a Ford new or rebuilt alternator.I support this view also.
I know this sounds strange but make sure your battery is fully charged before you start the car or you could overstress your new alternator.They really aren't designed to charge batteries that are nearly dead,only to maintain the charge of good batteries.

 

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...11&PTSet=A

What do you think about this?

 

MUSTANGS ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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What does everyone think about this alternator:

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...11&PTSet=A

 

That'll work. You may think about a regulator, as well. It may be just the regulator, too. And, it's a little cheaper.