Alternator performing below par

What symptoms have you got to make you think it's below par? What car/engine have you got? Has it got an old-fashioned V belt or a modern multi-V type? What is the voltage at the battery with the engine at idle and the headlights on?

Steve

The message from Ted Rogers contains these words:

What are the symptoms?

From stone cold, run it for a few seconds - if the belt's slack the pulleys will be hot in that time. Anyway - they usually squeal if they're slack.

To check this you only need a cheap DVM. Maplin may have them on offer for as little as a couple of quid. The battery volts should be something like

If the belt is slack you'll usually hear this after the first start of the day - it will screech.

You'd be best to describe the symptoms.

Worn brushes, which usually means an exchange unit.

Only if you're totally useless. So in which case no point in asking here, but simply take it to a garage.