I searched the site and found out that this is my alternator going bad. The brake and battery light came on for me last night and all day today and then they went away and did not come back on later that night. I had the alternator tested and they said it was putting out only 10 volts so I decided to have it replaced.

My question is for anyone who had this problem before, did your brake and battery lights go off after it warned you about the alternator problem and then your alternator did die... if so how long after? I want to make sure it was a good idea to shell out the $270 to get a new alternator installed because my lights came on for about 12 hours?

 

whats with the three threads about alternators

if there is a problem...fix it

 

It’s in the shop right now scheduled to get fixed tomorrow morning. I don't know a lot about cars but love my max. I just said above about what happened the last few days and wanted to make sure I should definitely go through with getting it fixed tomorrow morning? I know in our gen that the ignition coils go bad (which I already have had to replace) and our alternators go out, correct?

I just want to see if the lights went off if that was the problem or could it be wiring or something else? I really don't know and don't trust what the mechanics tell me these days. That’s why I ask the site here. If anyone has had this problem I would like to hear about it and your results… thanks!

 

if you don't know anything about cars..try learning about it... and save some $$$$$$$$

 

I've never heard of the "brake and battery" light issue being something other than alternator-related, whether or not an alternator is a direct cause. If you have ever experienced alternator failure while driving, you don't want to wait until an alternator completely stops working. I spent $90 for a replacement alternator and changed it myself but I don't think $270 for a new alternator installed is so bad considering the kind of work involved.

 

Go to somewhere like advance autoparts and get them to test your alt.

 

The same exact thing happened to me, and today my car just died. Getting a new alternator put in tomorrow.

 

That cursed brake & battery light combo nailed me one Monday morning a couple of weeks ago. I noticed the lights when I left for work, then just after I pulled onto the highway (on 90/94 from Addison for Chicago-folk) everything on my dash lit up like a Christmas tree, the center console and clock went blank, then my gauges all went to their off positions. Luckily I was still in the right lane and was able to get out of traffic. It ended up costing me $300 to have a new alternator installed along with a few other small things (completely bent out of whack fuel door hinge, etc.). Not a bad cost considering the situation.

 

Wholly crap, this must be the time for this to happen. Just happened to me tonight.

Guess it is time for a new alternator.

 

Yep, I had a new alternator put in and everything is back to normal now. Thank to everyone who helped me out on this.

 

How many miles does each one have on the alternator?