Hi Friends,
Is my Alternator going?

On a Highway trip, doing about 70mph, and slows down dramatically, and won't go over 20mph. TCS sensor, and ABS lights going on-off, etc. I get off the highway, and drove it for about 2 hrs (barely getting over 40mph)...and THEN after 2hrs, Acceleration returned to normal.

Took to Advanced Auto Parts, (this morning), Codes came back with this.ALSO, checked the battery and alternator charge at the Parts Store, and it spiked a little....So apparently, from what "I CAN" deduce (But i'm an amateur), the issue is one of the following:

• Alternator

• Cam sensor

QUESTION(s)

1. How much time do i have (if the alternator is the issue)?
2. If not alternator, how much time do i have to solve this issue (cam sensor, automatic speed control device)?

Thanks for any constructive input you can offer.

~T

 

If your alternator is dying the car will one day decide to not turn on and (maybe) your battery will be permanently damaged too.

 

Guess my question is..."how do i know if its the Alternator for sure?"

 

Do you have a trust worthy mechanic who you trust?

 

With a good alternator, the voltage on your battery, with the car idling, should be about 14.5V (13.5V min). With the engine switched off, the battery itself should hold 12-12.5V. What do you see on your car?

 

Sounds like all the classic signs of alternator failure. If it is the alt don't look for it to make it much longer. Do yourself a favor and buy a decent replacement. It's not the easiest job of you're doing yourself no need to do it twice.

 

Hi Mx,

I'm getting, these results

BATTERY: Cranking Normal; VOLTAGE: 10.70V, AMPS: 243.5A,
ALT: No Load: 14.10v, Loaded: 13.98v

I guess my question(s) are:

1. How long will the alternator Last?
2. How do i know, its NOT THE ALTERNATOR?

thanks

 

1.Bad battery/Battery should be 12v ....

2.But the car jerking I'll say it's your vss output

 

Hey Nestor...thanks

HOWEVER, i never said the car was "jerking,"...it slowed down with no acceleration.

So you are saying battery should be 12v?

 

Ooops sorry... I would still look into the vss ...as far as your battery,you can remove it along with the alternator and have them bench tested at a local parts store. Although those numbers don't suggest a bad alt only the battery.

When you take out the battery safely jack up your car and remove all abs sensors from the knuckle to clean them, the magnet is probably dirty af with metal particles...

 

Hey Sorry Nestor....THOSE ARE THE WRONG RESULTS (like i said, i'm a beginner). I GAVE YOU "the starter" results. SORRY.

HERE ARE THE CORRECT RESULTS

BATTERY
Voltage: 12.60
Measured:620
Rated:720

STARTER
Cranking Normal;
VOLTAGE: 10.70V,
AMPS: 243.5A,

ALTERNATOR
No Load: 14.10v, - 9.60A
Loaded: 13.98v- 7.6A

Getting weird coder Readings too.
I just came from a mechanic who said he got a p1800 VIAS CONTROLLER. Both of these code readers were hand held----not sure how reliable they are.

Car seems to be running fine now....WEIRD.

BTW...." what is VSS and why would you think it to be that?"




.

 

I agree battery isn't right. No load voltage seems to be good though. Take the battery to autozone have them double check then proceed. Alternator seems ok to me with the no load voltage.

 

Scratch above comment we must've posted at same time

 

I will also say that when my alternator was starting to go sometimes voltage was ok others it wasn't even charging. I've got an obd11 phone app so I could watch it as I drove. So that's one thing to keep in mind. I just know from not only my experience but a bunch others too that when you get the three lights you described that's the alternator trifecta.

 

The vss is the vehicle speed sensor ...it tells the transition when to shift...

This is probably what you referring to as a automatic speed control device sensor p1574.

 

double post.

 

Thanks Mat...we'll see.

My Mechanic said to drive it and see if it acts up. If it does, then stop driving it. RIGHT NOW, the car is driving perfect.

Go figure?? ?


.Pretty Kewl.

I guess i can google obd11 phone app?

How can i get one of those?

Thanks Man!

 

You can get the piece to plug into your obd11 port off of amazon. I had an extra android phone lying around so I use that to monitor. Iphone from what I hear is not very good as far as app goes.

 

Gotcha...so you are saying

1. the android ap is good
2. the iphone ap is not-good

THANks MAN!

 

Sorry to pro long this but fyi. When buying the plug in obd do research some of them don't work as well as others.