How many amps should my alternator produce?

[K-Dawg]

Autozone tested it yesterday (on the vehicle) and with the radio and a/c both on it showed it was producing 41 amps. Is that a little low? Do I need a new alternator?

[Fastbird]

Should have tested it with no load. But 41 is low......should see 80% capacity during test, so depending on year you'd want to see around 80-100 amps.

[K-Dawg]

Thanks. The volt meter in the car moves around as well. At idle it can get down close to 13 and when it's cruising it ranges anywhere from 13.5ish to the 3/4 hashmark, what ever that is (can't remember off the top of my head). Is it normal for it to vary that much?

[popo8]

Thanks. The volt meter in the car moves around as well. At idle it can get down close to 13 and when it's cruising it ranges anywhere from 13.5ish to the 3/4 hashmark, what ever that is (can't remember off the top of my head). Is it normal for it to vary that much?

Not sure what the 3/4 hash mark is without going out in the garage (and Im tired) but 13- 13.5 is great....

[Tarheel'Z']

mine typical hangs around 14

[LT1Blackbird]

Thanks. The volt meter in the car moves around as well. At idle it can get down close to 13 and when it's cruising it ranges anywhere from 13.5ish to the 3/4 hashmark, what ever that is (can't remember off the top of my head). Is it normal for it to vary that much?

Yea, normal. Depends on how many accessories you have running, along with some other variables.