Systems and methods for determining a vehicle alternator condition

A method by a telematics system comprising a telematics device, a telematics server, and a network connecting the telematics device to the telematics server, the method for predicting an alternator failure in a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

• capturing, by the telematics device, a first plurality of voltage readings during a plurality of micro wakeups;
• sending, by the telematics device, the first plurality of voltage readings during one or more regular wakeups to the telematics server;
• saving, by the telematics server, the first plurality of voltage readings;
• if an ignition signal is detected at the telematics device:
• sending, by the telematics device, an ignition signal indicator to the telematics server;
• determining, by the telematics server, a maximum cranking voltage and a maximum cranking voltage timestamp from the first plurality of voltage readings;
• capturing, by the telematics device, a second plurality of voltage readings each comprising a device voltage;
• sending, by the telematics device, the second plurality of voltage readings to the telematics server;
• determining, by the telematics server, a maximum device voltage and a maximum device voltage timestamp from the second plurality of voltage readings;
• and
• determining, by the telematics server, a potential alternator undercharging condition if a duration between the maximum cranking voltage timestamp and the maximum device voltage timestamp is greater than an undercharging indicator duration threshold.