I know how many alternator threads there are. I read them all searching for this but could not find my answer. For MONTHS my brake and battery light have been intermitantly coming on and off. They never stayed on long enough to have ANYONE check my charging system. I had a local shop replace my alternator almost exactly a year ago and have heard faint rattling coming from the alternator since then. The last time I had him check it out he double checked to make sure everything was tight. . .retightened the belts, etc. Still rattled and still intermitant brake/battery light. I figured i had gotten a defective alternator, but both times the shop checked the charging system he said it all checked out fine.

Past few days the car would hard start (just a little) sounded like a dying battery. This would ONLY happen after the car had been driven a short distance, then stopped, then restarted, etc. After long trips (I drove 156 mile round trip last sunday with no trouble,) it would be fine. I assumed that the alternator wasn't charging the battery very well but it WAS charging. . .just slow. . .i don't know. Anyway. . .yesterday the girlfriend drove the car. Stopped at the bank. . .then the post office. . .then another bank. When she started the car (after 3 SHORT trips) it sounded like the batter died as it tried to crank and then that was it. No more cranking. We can't jump start it now. . .nothing. When you turn the key, it clicks once and that's it. When starting with the headlights on they BARELY dim. I only even notice because i'm watching for it. So i'm pretty sure the battery's ok. The batter/brake light suggested that the alternator's the problem, but here's my question. The only thing I couldn't find in other posts was: will the car TRY to start if the alternator's dead? I mean. . .do you have to have a working alternator? I even tried it with the battery charge set on jumpstart and it just clicks. I would think there was a starter problem if i didn't know about the battery/brake light.

Any suggestions? The alternator is pretty tough to get out of this car to bring it to autozone to have it tested. (on my 94 sentra and my girlfriend's 99 altima the alternator can be gotten to by removing the radiator hose!) I also can't get it to the shop because it won't start.

 

Probably two problems: starter throw-out solenoid bad, (replace starter) and definitely you've got the classic signs of a dying alternator. You may have a grounding problem too.

 

real coincidence that the starter went while the alternator was dying. would the car try to start if the alternator was completely dead?

-James

 

So does the alternator have to be working to have the car try to turn over? I want to try to replace the alternator tomorrow but don't want to be stuck needing a starter afterwards. The headlights work. . .all of the elctronics work, but the car just won't try to turn over. It just clicks once when I try to start it. It won't take a jump either. I know it COULD be the starter, but with this scenario is it possible that the starter is fine?

-James