It's dead.....
07-13-2006, 09:53 PM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 37
It's dead.....
Talk about irony, I had posted in another thread about how many third gens that were dying, and well lookee here, mine is dead(kinda)
Ok so this is what happened. I was coming home from a friends house tonite when I noticed my gauges looked really dim, and then just as I noticed that, my radio cut out, and it only does that when either a)theres too much juice for it too handle, or b)when there isn't enough juice to keep it on. Well my volume was down pretty low, so I thought of the latter. I knew that my battery had been leaking pretty badly lately, so I thought that might be the problem. Well anyway, I get home and as soon as I put it in park, the lights get really dim, and the car starts idling really rough, so hard that the hood starts shaking(I heard the dam thing). I step outside of the car and the lights are flickering with the rise and fall of the idle. Well, I turn it off, and try to start it again, but all I hear is the starter engaging. The lights still worked, but when I had the key in the ON position and turned on the lights, the lights went dim again, but when I turned them off, the interiors lit up bright. So I'm thinking it's the alternator(I pray that it isn't). So I'm gonna get a battery tomorrow and hopefully that's all that it is, but in the meantime, what do you guys think it could be? (BTW it's not the fuel pump, it turns on when the key is in the ON position. Also when I rev the engine, the lights get bright again, which also leads me to believe that it's the alternator 
)
Ok so this is what happened. I was coming home from a friends house tonite when I noticed my gauges looked really dim, and then just as I noticed that, my radio cut out, and it only does that when either a)theres too much juice for it too handle, or b)when there isn't enough juice to keep it on. Well my volume was down pretty low, so I thought of the latter. I knew that my battery had been leaking pretty badly lately, so I thought that might be the problem. Well anyway, I get home and as soon as I put it in park, the lights get really dim, and the car starts idling really rough, so hard that the hood starts shaking(I heard the dam thing). I step outside of the car and the lights are flickering with the rise and fall of the idle. Well, I turn it off, and try to start it again, but all I hear is the starter engaging. The lights still worked, but when I had the key in the ON position and turned on the lights, the lights went dim again, but when I turned them off, the interiors lit up bright. So I'm thinking it's the alternator(I pray that it isn't). So I'm gonna get a battery tomorrow and hopefully that's all that it is, but in the meantime, what do you guys think it could be? (BTW it's not the fuel pump, it turns on when the key is in the ON position. Also when I rev the engine, the lights get bright again, which also leads me to believe that it's the alternator )
07-13-2006, 10:40 PM
#2
Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 49
did it rain around there recently? if so maybe the belt is slipping on the alternator its happened to me a few times, but then again im running without any of the engine undercovers so water gets there easily. but definitely has to do with the alternator.
07-14-2006, 07:39 AM
#5
Originally Posted by evil pete
Yea, im probaly get a get a reman., I can pick it up for $30. This isn't surprising though, it's the original alternator. Thanks for the help once again 
$30.........Where?
07-14-2006, 08:23 AM
#6
I would get a high quality alt. If you burn through 1-3 cheap alts you will prolly have to replace your battery once or twice too as it will drain it down when the alt fails, at least that’s what happened to me when my alt died, but after a short tow to sears I haven’t had any problems from either the bat or alt.
07-14-2006, 10:13 AM
#11
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 21
Originally Posted by MyGreenMax94
#1 symtom is the battery/brake light illuminating at the same time..Followed by dimming lights,hard starting..etc..
07-14-2006, 10:28 AM
#12
Originally Posted by Born83
thank you. i'm looking to buy a 3rd gen soon and want to be prepared for any problems.
Biggest problems
1. injector failure
2. Vg[sohc engine] auto transmission failure...
If you decide to buy a vg auto...Make sure you the previous owners have changed the transmission fluid regularly..
If they havent,you are just asking for trouble...
07-14-2006, 11:05 AM
#13
Originally Posted by MyGreenMax94
Biggest problems
1. injector failure
2. Vg[sohc engine] auto transmission failure...
If you decide to buy a vg auto...Make sure you the previous owners have changed the transmission fluid regularly..
If they havent,you are just asking for trouble...
1. injector failure
2. Vg[sohc engine] auto transmission failure...
If you decide to buy a vg auto...Make sure you the previous owners have changed the transmission fluid regularly..
If they havent,you are just asking for trouble...
07-14-2006, 11:11 AM
#14
Originally Posted by internetautomar
you forgot window regulators.
Hell,i have fixed all my bad regulators[2 on my car 2 on my wifes car] with "special stuff"..Cost $4.99 for the "stuff"..
07-14-2006, 11:13 AM
#15
Originally Posted by MyGreenMax94
Regulators are not "something to look for"
Hell,i have fixed all my bad regulators[2 on my car 2 on my wifes car] with "special stuff"..Cost $4.99 for the "stuff"..
Hell,i have fixed all my bad regulators[2 on my car 2 on my wifes car] with "special stuff"..Cost $4.99 for the "stuff"..
only my very first one had a bad reg
I could have fixed the last one, but I had a spare reg in the garage already.
07-14-2006, 02:10 PM
#16
Originally Posted by Born83
What are the "symptoms" of a dying alty?
Good luck, these are great cars, more so for being as old as they all are currently.
07-20-2006, 07:16 PM
#17
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 37
Yea sorry about the lack of replies lately, been a tad busy. But replaced the alty with a junkyard special($35), and the sucker works better then the one that was in there before(granted the previous one was the original from the factory 
) BUt as for signs of a dying alternator, read my first post, one day it was fine, the next day all was dim then all was dead.
) BUt as for signs of a dying alternator, read my first post, one day it was fine, the next day all was dim then all was dead.
07-21-2006, 09:35 AM
#18
Guest
Posts: n/a
Mine played games with me. When I stopped driving it in feb, it gave a small hint one day. When I started driving it the 2 lights faded in and out and went away. Then one day they came fully on, and thats when it finally died. I had a spare off my spare engine so I just swapped it out. Ill probably have to buy another soon...
~Alex
~Alex
07-21-2006, 12:11 PM
#19
How many miles can the car go with battery/brake warning lights coming on and alternator getting worse? I'm having the hard starting and warning light symptoms but no dimming lights yet. I'm planning for a 250-mile drive tonight and am not sure the car will last that long.
07-21-2006, 12:34 PM
#20
Originally Posted by anaximander
How many miles can the car go with battery/brake warning lights coming on and alternator getting worse? I'm having the hard starting and warning light symptoms but no dimming lights yet. I'm planning for a 250-mile drive tonight and am not sure the car will last that long.
Do not attempt this trip...You will most likely be stranded..
Once my warning lights started it was less then 100 miles before it was gone..
07-21-2006, 12:44 PM
#21
Originally Posted by MyGreenMax94
Do not attempt this trip...You will most likely be stranded..
Once my warning lights started it was less then 100 miles before it was gone..
Once my warning lights started it was less then 100 miles before it was gone..
Thats the truth.
07-21-2006, 02:43 PM
#22
I wouldn't risk a trip of any length when the lights are coming on.
when mine failed my lights would come on when I was driving off idle intermittently.
I never did let it totaly fail. Crappy AZ rebuilds. I put in one of mine as a replacement.
when mine failed my lights would come on when I was driving off idle intermittently.
I never did let it totaly fail. Crappy AZ rebuilds. I put in one of mine as a replacement.
07-21-2006, 03:25 PM
#23
Originally Posted by internetautomar
I wouldn't risk a trip of any length when the lights are coming on.
when mine failed my lights would come on when I was driving off idle intermittently.
I never did let it totaly fail. Crappy AZ rebuilds. I put in one of mine as a replacement.
when mine failed my lights would come on when I was driving off idle intermittently.
I never did let it totaly fail. Crappy AZ rebuilds. I put in one of mine as a replacement.
You went to autozone??!!!!Furshame Furshame..
07-21-2006, 03:52 PM
#24
Originally Posted by MyGreenMax94
You went to autozone??!!!!Furshame Furshame..
got $200+ back from AZ because it was a defect.
I wouldn't trust their rebuilt parts for anything unless it was a car I was selling.
07-21-2006, 04:05 PM
#25
I love you guys. Advanced auto just free-checked the alternator and there was no current between the batter and alt. It would eventually drain the battery lifeless if I continued to drive. I dropped it off for replacement rightaway.
07-21-2006, 07:11 PM
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 186
Originally Posted by anaximander
I love you guys. Advanced auto just free-checked the alternator and there was no current between the batter and alt. It would eventually drain the battery lifeless if I continued to drive. I dropped it off for replacement rightaway.
LOL Yep that would happen
08-01-2006, 01:05 PM
#28
Newbie - Just Registered
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 7
I went through like two batteries when I was having alternator issues......Finally was able to get a 'good alternator' after using a Pep Boys piece (I was stranded & it was the closest). Worked fine up until the engine quit at 270,000 miles. Currently looking for a replacement motor.
08-01-2006, 02:40 PM
#29
Originally Posted by Burgundy91SE
I went through like two batteries when I was having alternator issues......Finally was able to get a 'good alternator' after using a Pep Boys piece (I was stranded & it was the closest). Worked fine up until the engine quit at 270,000 miles. Currently looking for a replacement motor.
08-03-2006, 01:17 PM
#30
Newbie - Just Registered
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 7
The car ran hot one day and it started gushing water from somewhere in the motor. Im not very mechanical but willing to learn. The lifters are tapping and it seems more sensible to look for a motor. Anyone know where I can get a low mileage motor for my VE 5speed. I really dont want to get rid of the car. I love it!!
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