Allow me to ask the easy question.

If the car is not supercharged, you should have a voltmeter in the cluster on the dash. What was the voltage reading, the day or so leading up to the explosion.

If the car is supercharged...then you have a boost gauge and the above question doesn't apply, because you don't have a voltmeter to reference.

I dont have the supercharged engine in my car, and im not exactly sure about the voltmeter Im guessing its the meter with the battery under it??? If so it was all the way to the right in the red hovering by the 18. If its something else then im not sure. Is that what your talking about?

Yes...that is telling you that your battery was overcharging.

Normal is 12-15 volts... anything more or less indicates a problem that should be looked into immediately.


(Now..I'd like my good diagnosis award for the day please)

Then again I only noticed it acting like that when I first felt the car running weird (when I accelerated for that first go) I didnt pay attention to the gauges on the way to work because usually my oil guage bounces along to my music and I dont really take too much notice because it hasnt been a problem, just a sensor thing.

So I guess I need a new alternator after all huh? Heres another dumb question (sorry) Do I get one with heated windshield or without? Thanks again guys for all your help I really appreiciate it!

No.. you don't replace the alternator until it'* been checked. Most likely .. you'll be buying one though.

I'd buy the right one for the job. Do you have a heated windshield... ok..get the one w/o.

And...because you'd have your old one with you...there would be no core charge!

It'* toast. Take it in and have it tested, if you like, but the voltage regulator problerm may be intermittent. Modern voltage regs are just a microchip and just switch current on and off. Perhaps the chip just fails when it heats up.

I'd say it'* alternator time, unless you have an alternator repair shop around you that will replace the voltage regulator (I do).