Possible dead alternator?
#1
Member
Posts like a V-Tak
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Possible dead alternator?
Hello again everyone--my girlfriends Bonne is having some issues
I'm guessing it'* the alternator. To describe the problem, a few months ago, it started dying. Let it sit for a day and it wouldn't start and needed to be jumped. Eventually it started getting really bad, so I decided to replace the battery, figuring if this new one died it would be the alternator. Put the new battery in, it worked great, for maybe, two months or so now. Now it'* not starting anymore. She drove the car to my house tonight and when we went to go an hour or so later, it wouldn't start and the lights inside were dim.
Anyway, I'm figuring it'* just the alternator on this thing, because if it was a drain somewhere, the battery would have taken a lot longer to die, rather than just slowly fizzling out after a few months. So I just came around to get a second opinion on what it is. Oh, she has a mobil phone in her car that she doesn't use, but when I put the new bat in, I disabled the thing because I thought it might be a drain.
Also, if it is the alternator, how much do they generally go for on these cars? In addition, to get the belts off, do you guys have a belt tensioner somewhere? I never really looked at the motor too close, as it'* not my car, but on my SC 3.8, the belts are quite easy to get off.
Thanks.
I'm guessing it'* the alternator. To describe the problem, a few months ago, it started dying. Let it sit for a day and it wouldn't start and needed to be jumped. Eventually it started getting really bad, so I decided to replace the battery, figuring if this new one died it would be the alternator. Put the new battery in, it worked great, for maybe, two months or so now. Now it'* not starting anymore. She drove the car to my house tonight and when we went to go an hour or so later, it wouldn't start and the lights inside were dim.
Anyway, I'm figuring it'* just the alternator on this thing, because if it was a drain somewhere, the battery would have taken a lot longer to die, rather than just slowly fizzling out after a few months. So I just came around to get a second opinion on what it is. Oh, she has a mobil phone in her car that she doesn't use, but when I put the new bat in, I disabled the thing because I thought it might be a drain.
Also, if it is the alternator, how much do they generally go for on these cars? In addition, to get the belts off, do you guys have a belt tensioner somewhere? I never really looked at the motor too close, as it'* not my car, but on my SC 3.8, the belts are quite easy to get off.
Thanks.
#2
Senior Member
Certified Car Nut
Yes, it has a tensioner near the middle somewhere (or two if it'* supercharged). A bad alternator or battery has a bad habit of taking the other along with it. I strongly suspect that.
#6
Senior Member
Certified GM nut
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Western New York
Posts: 1,942
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If the alternator is bad the car the car would die while driving around. It sounds like you're just having trouble after the car sits awhile. Sounds like something is draining the battery.
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
When you get the car started... Check the Alt to see if its putting out any power with a Digital Volt Meter... General area for a 95 should be 13-14.5 Volts... If the alt is not putting out any power shut the car off.. Make sure the battery has a sufficent 12v charge.. Remove the connector from the alt( red wire ), start the car and probe the wire for power.. I think the general area should be 9-10v. If there is power at this wire but no power being developed by the alt, replace the alt and see if that solves the problem...
__________________
Best Car Insurance | Auto Protection Today | FREE Trade-In Quote
__________________
Best Car Insurance | Auto Protection Today | FREE Trade-In Quote
#8
Member
Posts like a V-Tak
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Technical Ted
If the alternator is bad the car the car would die while driving around. It sounds like you're just having trouble after the car sits awhile. Sounds like something is draining the battery.
Also, I don't have the tools to check the volts and such. I may just tell her to take it to a "mechanic" to diagnose it.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
khaustic
1992-1999
10
01-15-2004 08:08 PM