Alternater? Tell me what you think.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Alternater? Tell me what you think.
okay, yesterday i had to jump start my car twice. seems as though the battery was really low (not completely dead). after the second jump start i left the engine running so the alternator would recharge the battery. i shut off my engine and then tried to start my car but the battery was still too low to start. i'm thinking that its either the alternator or the battery cable. Tell me what you think. thanks for any input. ^_^
#CustomUserTitle
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 63,855
Likes: 1
From: glass case of emotion
See any signs of alternator issues? (high pitch squeeling in the speakers, strange dash lights)
Sounds like the alternator to me ... but .. how old is the battery? sometimes they just can't hold a charge anymore.
Sounds like the alternator to me ... but .. how old is the battery? sometimes they just can't hold a charge anymore.
lots and lots of fail
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 23,004
Likes: 1
From: Deeeeeeeeeeeeeeetroit
This sounds more like dead battery than alternator.
Pop off the little plastic covers on the top of your battery and see if the acid is covering the electrodes. If not, add some DISTILLED water to it temporarily but replace ASAP.
Pop off the little plastic covers on the top of your battery and see if the acid is covering the electrodes. If not, add some DISTILLED water to it temporarily but replace ASAP.
ThInK PiNk!
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 482
Likes: 0
or
you can start your car and disconnect the positive side on your battery while the car is running. if the car shuts off when you disconnect the possitive side, then its your alternator. if it doesnt shut off then it might just be the battery.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,994
Likes: 2
Got a voltmeter? I'm surprised nobody suggested actually measuring your charging voltage.
Engine running, should be above 13 volts.
Engine running, turn on everything you can find. Lights, wipers, blowers, amplifiers, windows, whatever. It should not drop much.
If it can't hold 13 volts when the engine is running, your alternator isn't working. First check all the wiring connections at the battery, alternator & ALL the grounds.
Engine running, should be above 13 volts.
Engine running, turn on everything you can find. Lights, wipers, blowers, amplifiers, windows, whatever. It should not drop much.
If it can't hold 13 volts when the engine is running, your alternator isn't working. First check all the wiring connections at the battery, alternator & ALL the grounds.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
CRAPXORS!!! 
i wish i waited. I already bought an alternator and installed it.
after i bought the alternator, i let the car idle to recharge it, but that didn't work. after that i went to autozone and got the battery tested. They said it was bad (dude said that a bad battery has a certain smell). So i got a new battery and now everything is fine, except for the fact that i waste $115 on the alternator. Thanks for the Help though guys. Now i know, and knowing is half the battle
i wish i waited. I already bought an alternator and installed it.after i bought the alternator, i let the car idle to recharge it, but that didn't work. after that i went to autozone and got the battery tested. They said it was bad (dude said that a bad battery has a certain smell). So i got a new battery and now everything is fine, except for the fact that i waste $115 on the alternator. Thanks for the Help though guys. Now i know, and knowing is half the battle
bboy Wesley West
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 15,390
Likes: 0
From: six-five-o
Originally Posted by FireGuySith
CRAPXORS!!! i wish i waited. I already bought an alternator and installed it.
after i bought the alternator, i let the car idle to recharge it, but that didn't work. after that i went to autozone and got the battery tested. They said it was bad (dude said that a bad battery has a certain smell). So i got a new battery and now everything is fine, except for the fact that i waste $115 on the alternator. Thanks for the Help though guys. Now i know, and knowing is half the battle
i wish i waited. I already bought an alternator and installed it.after i bought the alternator, i let the car idle to recharge it, but that didn't work. after that i went to autozone and got the battery tested. They said it was bad (dude said that a bad battery has a certain smell). So i got a new battery and now everything is fine, except for the fact that i waste $115 on the alternator. Thanks for the Help though guys. Now i know, and knowing is half the battle