ghostridden

iTrader: (2)

Ok my alternator light came on about 5 days ago, it'd stay on for about 5-15 minutes then go off, then two nights ago, i was on my way to my girlfriends house, i had my headlights, fog lights, stereo blaring, and my car charger on, well i was going up the mountain, turned on my air conditioner and my acceleration stopped, my lights dimmed majorly, stereo stopped and turned off, when i got up to her house, my idle was bouncing from 300-800, lights were basically not on, my bright lights were dimmer than when on regular, my dad thinks my alt is bad, cause i charged the battery that night and everything was ok, but today while at burger king my stereo stopped again and the idle was rough, no acceleration (sounded like it was missing too), is it my alternator going bad causing it to run on my battery which obviously doesn't last too long?

Wiking

Invest to a digital multimeter and check out Voltage. Must be 13.8V or more at batt.

Possibly brushes worn out. Other possibilities:
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/748507/5

Jbr8k

iTrader: (8)

From my similar experience I would say alternator. Get one with a lifetime warrenty and make sure you recharge your battery after installation..

hadman

iTrader: (21)

Indeed it sounds like a bad alternator. Keep charging the battery without changing it and eventually you'll have to replace that too.

Wiking

If one wants to pinpoint the problem below repair level e., one needs a multimeter. Finger or wishin is not enough - or possibly the problem visits again:

Trblshooting chart A-lt...

There is smtg wrong in:

a. USA
b. AL
c. Fort Payne
d. ghostridden's max
e. Charge Voltage
d1. Alt, d2. Alt Wiring, d3. Alt Fusing, d4. Alt Gnd

f. If Alt: g1. Bearing g2.Brushes g3.Diodes g4.Regulator

f. If Alt Wiring: See wiring at already mentioned link

f. If Alt Fusing: See fusible link at already mentioned link

f. If Alt GND: see GND at already mentioned link

g. Replace OR repair Alt


For me it has been all of those mentioned. Last time in this max it was this ... figure out what:

bvtran

iTrader: (3)

if your battery keeps getting drained then it's definately your alternator. contrary to popular believes, not all alternators are equally remanufactured. I recommend Bosch alternator over all others, it doesn't comes with lifetime warranty but the craftmanship is way better than those autojunk stuffs that are equiped with lifetime of hassles.

bvtran

iTrader: (3)

btw, I paid $115 for that Bosch alternator after shipped back my core at car-bin.?. I can't remember their site but they're all over google with 10 different names. their base is in NJ.

Wiking

That statement is NOT true.

Possibly TRUE.

MrSector9

iTrader: (4)

Wiking is that an adjustment bolt for the alternator?

Defiantly check the adjustment since the more power the alternator is trying to creat the harder it is to spin so that might be why your light will come on once and a while.

I would also say it is the regulator stage of the alternator bad/going bad,also look around for an alternator/starter shop to just rebuild you own.We have aguy locally that warranties his work.is fast and dirt cheap.To completely rebuild most alternators with every piece it costs $110 canadian.

BJ White

hadman

iTrader: (21)

I guess Wiking is is correct here. "Definitely" is a word we probably shouldn't throw around quite so easily - seeing as we are on the net and nobody is able to dianose a problem first hand.

But it is "most likely" your alternator.

Wiking

Most likely alt brushes(70%?): direct relation to mileage.

And even more likely REPLACING Alt will correct the low charge voltage (90%?). Still my guess is that in 20% of THOSE swaps, Alternator was ok, swap to new was baseless: problem was bad wire/gnd which came to be cleaned via the exercise. (Oxidation: direct relation to age, ambient acidity)
In such a case, 'REPLACING' was the actual work correcting the problem. Want to be sure? Insert the old Alt back, and IF everythin is ok ...

hadman

iTrader: (21)

Good points Wiking. This is why you are the Wikingpedia, or is that Wikipedia?

Wiking

Nooooo. Actually used to own Volvo Viking 20yrs ago; 30ft RV. 9L diesel... pedia had not born yet?

Wiking

Note: Vikipedia is smtg which aksansai is busy arranging.

Heres a pic of a Volvo bus, WIIMA chassis:

ghostridden

iTrader: (2)

my original theory was just my belt being loose or wornout, but after it dying that night and trying to again i'm afraid its the alt just giving out, i think the previous owner never replaced the alt or anything, which sucks cause with my car having 197k on it now, its definently pass due for one......just don't have the money, lol.....time to rob another bank....geesh idiots......lol j/k

Alex_V

I have an alt, pm me if you want it.

~Alex