I bought a 110 amp alternator from AZ last year and haven't had any issues until this winter. Sometimes (usually in the morning when it's really cold) the voltmeter will only show that I'm at 12V (sometimes less) when I'm idling. Then when I start driving the volts go up as the RPM's go up. Other mornings, the volt gauge says 14V+ and the alt seems to be putting out a ton.
I do have a stereo system with subs, etc, and sometimes the volts output seems affected by having the stereo on and sometimes it seems completely unaffected.
This issue has caused me to have to jump the car sometimes (the battery acts as if it's dead), but what's strange is that sometimes it starts right up without hesitating.
I'm sure the alternator is on it's way out, but I'm just curious if anything else could be causing this. The last time I had to replace the alternator, it would just never go above 12V as if I didn't even have an alternator. This is a little weirder. Could I have a weak alternator bearing or something?
Thanks for any help....
