The battery light came on last night (and brake light). They are both off today and Pep Boys said the new battery and stock alternator are testing out fine. The belts are tight and she's only got 66k- ANY IDEAS? It's charging at 14 volts. The gas gauge flucuated last night once. I have used shell gas ); Could the alt. be going bad? Dealer said it's not common. Thanks ORG.

 

If you got a 5spd, and they just flashed on for a second, i think you mighta almost stalled your car and recovered. im not really tech savvy but thats the only thing i can think of thatd have the brake and battery light flaring on

 

if battery and brake lights came on, then your alternator is going bad

 

If you haven't replaced the battery, I'd almost guarantee it's a dying cell. Since you alt is charging at 14 volts, it's obviously fine. Swap the battery out.

 

No offense, housecor, but it's not just the volts, it's the amps. Pull the alternator and bench-test it on a good machine or plug in a Minuteman or similar tester -- I have seen fun alternators that put out 14.8V and 10 amps (!).

Have the battery load tested -- I have seen brand new batteries with bad cells.

BTW -- Dying alternator on a max will usually bring about battery light + ABS light (because ABS system shuts down on low input voltage.)

However, you might have a loose or corroded cable somewhere, at the battery or at the starter or alternator. Check that out before you spend lots of money throwing parts at it.

 

thank god I'm not the only one...my 5spd has been doing the same thing since I moved up here from miami I took it to the dealer and they changed the o2 sensor I took it to them because the first day at my new job it didn't want to start and I had to get a jump (and of course it ran fine after that)

has been find since then (middle of april) and now all this week again the brake light and the battery light come on occasionally, and on thursday morning I had to get a jump cause it would not crank

Jaime replaced my belts and brakes today and checked the computer which came up rosy

The battery was replaced Oct. last year

I will let you know how it acts now with new brakes and belts

btw I am borderline 50k miles on her


what kind of gas are you putting in your car?? I have to be honest I have been cheap and have been putting BP regular and Shell regular gas in her (she's probably p!ssed as all get out at me spoiled wench, damm car gets more goodies than i do) I put some midgrade in her today I'm hoping it will make a difference I got a whopping 7 gallons with 15 bucks...its a damm shame

 

Well said. And none taken.