Thanks for all your replies. The tech said nothing about the bearings. I
watched him do the load test. Both the new one and the old one had the same
output of 11V. I'm thinking that this unit has a voltage regulator that is
separate from the alternator itself and there is some thing inside the
alternator that keeps it from going too high with out the external
regulator. On the vehicle the output tested low also, although I did not
see him test it. I left the shop (not a Chrysler shop) with these words. If
you think the new one will work put it on. He said he would and that he
would check it after it was installed. If it did not work he said that he
would put the old one back on. My wife picked up the car with a new
alternator. I have not had a chance to check it myself for output but I will
this weekend. The whole thing is still a little of a mystery but thanks to
everyone who replied.

My wife just drove in with the car while I was typing this. I just checked
it out with the new alternator installed. Engine off- the battery measures
12.4V Running it checks 13.9V so I guess all is well. I may never know if
it really needed a new alternator but I'll have to take their word for it.
They have always done the right thing in the past so I guess It's a done
deal.

Thanks again,
Smitty



"Daniel J. Stern" > wrote in message
n.umich.edu...
> On Thu, 3 Mar 2005, Bill Putney wrote:
>
>> >>Smitty posted a little earlier that both old and new alternators load
>> >>tested at 11V - so it sounds like something else is going on external
>> >>to
>> >>the alternator.
>
>> > The load test results say nothing about the condition of the bearings.
>
>> But...if the load test is correct, then there's no reason to assume it's
>> the bearings.
>
> Sure there is: The tech said the alternator is going bad.