This is the second time in less than a week this has happened.

Last Thursday I was leaving my church, car started up like the battery was really week, (which it was). I wasn't worried once the car was started, I figured I would get a new battery the next day. I turned on my stereo and turned the volume up. As soon as I switched on my headlights, the volume cut out, all dash lights went dim and the ABS light came on.

I was a little concerned and confused, I figured it might be the alternator.

I left the parking lot and was waiting to get on the freeway, when I could feel it going to quit. Then the light turned green, and of course my car immediately died. Tried restarting and I could only hear the solenoid clicking rapidly.

I got it towed home, had the driver quickly pump 700 amps to charge my battery and it started. After a couple starts it died again.

I replaced the battery the next day and presto! Everything fine! I checked the alternator at work by checking voltage before and after starting. 12.3 before a little above 13 V after. So I thought the alternator was charging.

Everything has been fine until last night. Of course I am driving on a road in the middle of the desert with no one around, and I see the ABS light come on...

I try hauling a$$ back to beat the problem. As soon as I come out of reversing I give it gas, and it only gets over 1000 rpm, wont shift even with the pedal to the floor, I just start pumping the gas until I manage to somehow get it to 75 MPH. About a minute passes, and the car slowly fades until it dies and I coast to the side of the road were it still sits right now about 45 mins away from my house... What in the heck is wrong?

By the way, no check engine light is on.

 

Have the alternator tested, 13v charging isn't quite up to par.

 

It sounds like an alternator to me, i had the same problem in a different vehicle. It would start fine off of a jump start and i would start driving and it wouldn't get above 25 mph..man that was a long 5 mile drive..i got home and it died in the drive way. a quick way to test it is to get it started and pull the positive off the battery if it dies the alternator is bad.

 

Good thing I have a spare alternator. I guess I will try driving out there and putting it on on the side of the road...

 

That will not be a fun replacement....

 

yea, that would definitely not be fun to do on the side of the road. In most cases the radiator has to be removed, correct?

 

dont listen to that guy...
just drip the AC take of the belt tightner makes its way easier...
and the bottom passenger side plastic sheild(the one by the front tire and the one on the front bottom.
should come out after that..takes about an hour and a half if you just take your time.
I just did it the other night.

 

I didn't say in all cases that you have to remove the radiator...

 

I am sure some people have, but for what need? 200 amp alt? a normal 125 or 110 should fit just fine...
btw... kragen 143 dollars the 125 amp...worked fine in my 97 se maxima.

 

shouldnt take long at all- and no need to remove the radiator. loosen the belt tensioner and belt. from up top unplug the alternator, unfasten the two wires (+ and -), and remove the upper bracket bolt. Then from under the car remove the 4 ac compressor bolts and slide the compressor forward, out of the way. remove the last alternator bolt and slide the alt out.

 

orrrr....u can just get a new battery....n then start the car..n drive it home...However, 45 min might be too long of a drive for just the battery alone. But at least get a new battery and drive it into a parking lot and not the side of the road, tahts what i would do. The car will start fine and just run off the battery. I wouldn't really change an alternator on the side of the road. That's just waiting for an accident to happen.

 

when testing alternators I believe it should be over the 14 V range FYI!

 

Well, I changed the alternator with the spare I had. No it is not a hard job at all, and no you don't need to take out the radiator. I ended up getting someone from work to tow it home for me. So far so good, I jumped it and ran it for about 20 minutes with very little charge so the alternator seems to be working fine. I just hope this isn't an intermittent issue...

Nominal charging voltage for the alternator is 14.1-14.7 volts, I just discovered.