Originally Posted by
WES84
did as suggested and the battery was 12v with the car off, I then started the car and checked it in idle and the voltage was only 9.2 and decreased from there. Does this mean the alternator is bad, or something else is draining the battery?
Generally speaking, when an alt is not charging, the battery voltage will go down when the engine is running. Voltage goes down because of all the electronics drawing juice.
Good chance the alt is bad. Before you remove the alt from the car, be sure you are getting battery voltage to the main stud on the alt. Voltage must be present at the stud. If you are getting battery voltage to the alt, then I would have the alt checked again.
James