Where is your voltage regulator located?
On most vehicles, the voltage regulator is either located inside of the alternator or mounted to it. But vintage vehicles often have an external voltage regulator, which may be mounted to the fender well, firewall, etc. It’s also important to note that some modern vehicles do not have a voltage regulator at all.
How do you tell if your voltage regulator or alternator is bad?
Do You Have a Bad Voltage Regulator?
- High voltage output.
- Low voltage output, sometimes.
- No voltage output.
- Lights dim or flicker.
- Faulty high-beam headlamp bulbs.
- Engine working erratically (weak or flickering ignition system)
- Adding water to the battery frequently.
- Growing corrosion around battery terminals and top.
How do I know if the alternator or the regulator is bad?
Probably, the most common symptom associated with a bad regulator is flickering, dimming, or pulsing lights. To be more specific, you may notice that the vehicle’s: Headlights fluctuate between bright and dim, without you doing anything. High beam isn’t working as expected.
What problems can a bad voltage regulator cause?
If you have a bad regulator, it may cause many components such as the fuel pump, ignition system, or other parts which require a minimum amount of voltage to not function correctly. What is this? You may experience the engine sputtering, a rough idle, or simply a lack of acceleration when you need it.
What happens when your voltage regulator goes bad?
And when the voltage regulator is damaged, the instrument cluster may not receive the right amount of input voltage. As a result, you may notice flickering gauges on your instrument cluster, or worse, it could stop working entirely.
Does alternator come with voltage regulator?
The standard alternator designed for road vehicles has a voltage regulator mounted to the back of the alternator and set to a single charge voltage of 14 or 28 volt. This is sufficient for a car battery, which is rarely (if ever) discharged.
How much does it cost to fix a voltage regulator?
On average, alternator voltage regulator replacement can cost you between $330 and $450.
Will a car start with a bad voltage regulator?
A bad voltage regulator may cause it to simply not work or behave erratically. You’re not likely to be able to start the car at all, but even if you could, it wouldn’t be wise to do so without knowing how fast you’re driving, how much fuel you have left, and other critical info.
Is a voltage regulator the same as an alternator?
Basically, the voltage regulator controls field current through the rotor, inside the alternator, in order to control alternator output. Without a voltage regulator, an alternator may put out up to 250 volts. This is enough to destroy the car’s battery and electrical system.
Can I replace a voltage regulator myself?
Voltage regulator or alternator diagnosis and replacement can be performed on many vehicles by an experienced DIYer, or otherwise left to a repair professional.