02 sonata battery discharging at idle

2002 HYUNDAI SONATA
134,000 MILES • 6 CYL • FWD • AUTOMATIC
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DONNELJ
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  • 2 POSTS
I have a 2002 sonata and my battery discharges at idle. It charges when i increase rpm to around 1500. Is this definitely the alternator or could it be something else?
Dec 27, 2010 at 8:08 PM
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DOCFIXIT
  • ✓ASE Certified Mechanic
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The regulator inside aLT has faulty diode and needs higher RPM to supply Exciter voltage
Dec 27, 2010 at 8:22 PM
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DONNELJ
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  • 2 POSTS
Does that mean the alternator needs to be replaced or is the regulator something that can be replaced?
Dec 28, 2010 at 8:19 PM
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DOCFIXIT
  • ✓ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 18,828 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
Generaly ALT is replaced regulator is built into ALT. The labor to remove and rebuild would exceed cost of ALT
Dec 28, 2010 at 8:47 PM
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