Dumb Question Thread - No Flaming Allowed

[Slideways]

They were worn, but definitely still making contact. Is this a definite alternator issue? Is 13.5V at idle (and I believe around high 12 low 13 at higher rpm) not enough to charge the battery? I have a relatively new battery and my car has been dying after it's been sitting for a while recently.

Based on other threads, the red battery light at 5k RPM points to the alternator.

[ejendow]

Were the brushes on the old VR fully worn out and not touching the contact point? If they were still good, then something else with the alternator might be bad. In which case, Rockauto has the best price for new Valeo alternators.

They were worn, but definitely still making contact. Is this a definite alternator issue? Is 13.5V at idle (and I believe around high 12 low 13 at higher rpm) not enough to charge the battery? I have a relatively new battery and my car has been dying after it's been sitting for a while recently.

[Slideways]

Not the original, but it is a Valeo alternator. I also used a Valeo VR.

Were the brushes on the old VR fully worn out and not touching the contact point? If they were still good, then something else with the alternator might be bad. In which case, Rockauto has the best price for new Valeo alternators.

[ejendow]

Which VR did you get and is this the original alternator (Valeo)?

Not the original, but it is a Valeo alternator. I also used a Valeo VR.

[Slideways]

I've been getting the red battery light on the cluster anywhere past 5k recently. I figured my VR was going out, so I replaced that and am still running into the same issue. Checking the voltage using the OBC I get ≈ 13.5V (±0.1) at idle.

Does this point to something else in my alternator failing and I should just get a new one?

Which VR did you get and is this the original alternator (Valeo)?