How Do I Know If It's My Battery Or Alternator. Basically your battery gets the engine going but once its on the alternator takes over and can. Without this charge the battery quickly drains even while the car is in use.
To prevent this monitor your battery throughout its lifetime with regular testing store it appropriately make sure it is regularly working and check recharging parts such as alternator and voltage regulator if the battery is beginning to give trouble. But if the battery reads over 15 volts or less than 13 volts then there might be a problem with the voltage regulator the wiring or the alternator. While not technically an alternator problem a car that wont start is a definitive sign that theres a problem in the starting system.
Another way to tell if an alternator is draining your battery is by running your car and unplugging the batterys positive connection.
If your battery is good and your alternator isnt working the battery will still lose its charge because the alternator isnt keeping it charged. There are two simple tests for checking your alternator. So youll want to check for the below signs to determine if its just the battery or if its the. If youve confirmed the battery is working properly after reading the section above then the safest conclusion to make is the issue is related to the alternator.
