Okay, I'm stumped. Last night I go out to my car to brush off the snow in preparation to drive home. It started just fine and I threw on the rear window defogger and seat heaters as well. I got into the car to start driving and noticed that the charging system light as well as the brake light are on (e-brake was not applied). Thinking I was drawing too much because the car was idling, I hit the gas to get the revs up - but it didn't do anything. Dash lights were dimmer too, as you would expect. After five minutes of normal driving the lights went away. However, I just went out to start it this morning and the lights are back. Other pieces of info needed to solve this puzzle - its a two year old DieHard battery, original alternator (89k miles) and I have noticed in the last month or so that the dash lights will dim slightly when the seat heaters/defogger are on when the revs get below 1200 or so - this never happened before either. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks guys.

 

Batt and brake light mean your alternator is dead. Replace it.

 

Thanks kevlo. I figured it was the alt but thought I would ask people more mechanically inclined first. Time to make some phone calls...

 

Autozone has them for about 150 with lifetime warrenty. Look in the 4th gen How To's too see how hard it is to replace. Save money and do it yourself.

 

Yeah, I was just looking at motorvate's write-up on replacing the alt. Personally I think it may be too complex but you don't know until you try. $150 is a lot better than, I'm guessing, $500 or so........

 

$150 for alt, and I wouldn't pay more than $100 for the install.

 

they will pay your for your old alternator right. Like $50-60 last time i checked.