Did my Alternator just die?

Twista · Aug 9, 2010

So, i went to the gas station to full up the tank. First full tank since i brought the car :headbang: and i noticed as i was driving home the lights was REALLY DIM.

So i got home and turned the car off. Wouldn't re-crank.

So i jumped it and it started, but the battery guage wasn't even @ 8. It was really low. So i drove it around to my garage where it barely made it and limped it into my garage where it died.

Does this sound like the Alternator??

So, if i buy a new alternator can i unbolt the aftermarket pulley on my old alternator or does a shop need to do that??

Thanks

cmsismyname · Aug 9, 2010

sounds like bad battery same thing just happened to my car and that was the problem

Twista · Aug 9, 2010

cmsismyname said:
sounds like bad battery same thing just happened to my car and that was the problem

But it would be the opposite i thought.. If a car is running it can run on the alternator alone i thought.

It cant run on the battery alone because nothing is recharging??

cmsismyname · Aug 9, 2010

i'm not a mechanic but my car did that yesterday and i bought a new battery and it solved the problem

ttocs · Aug 9, 2010

funny enough the other day I noticed my voltage dropping as I was driving home and barely made it into the garage. When I popped the hood I was amazed to see the 4 awg wire I had upgraded my power wire to had snapped off at the ring terminal. I crimped and soldered it and it looks like after years of vibration the soldered section started to crack.

Make sure everything is plugged into the alt, it could be it or the battery....

OnyxCobra · Aug 9, 2010

If it was just a battery your lights wouldn't be dim when the car was running. Sounds like it's the alt to me, the volt gauge should read higher than 8 volts when the car is running.

Venomous96Cobra · Aug 9, 2010

There is a simple way to test an alternator! That is if you dont want to bring it to autozone or advance auto parts and have them check it for FREE! start the car, with the car running! pull your oil dipstick and clean it, have your clean dipstick end make contact with the bolt on the alternator, it should immediatelly get magnetically attached to the bolt, try to pull it off! It should be hard to pull off if the alternator is good, because a good running alternator has a strong magnetic field. If it comes of very easily or doesn't stay on as if attached to a magnet then the alternator is bad!

ryclef331 · Aug 9, 2010

If the volts are low WHILE running, it most likely the alternator and the car is running off what is remaining of your batteries charge. unless your charge wire to the underhood fuse box is corroded, most likely your alternator is on the way out. 2 bolts, 2 harness clips, Belt, and charge wire and its off. you can check the magnetic deal with the dipstick as listed above but by what yo

Venomous96Cobra · Aug 9, 2010

sounds like a bad alt! i just wanted to give him a way to test it....

SRT Handz · Aug 9, 2010

yes, it did

Twista · Aug 9, 2010

Im just going to remove the alt and battery and take both in to get tested. Plus they will recharge the battery before they test it =]

thanks guys

Slykin · Aug 9, 2010

It's definitely the alternator, I had the exact same thing happen a couple months ago. I was driving and suddenly my stereo shut off, my gauge needles went all crazy, and my lights when really dim. Alternator fixed it.

Twista · Aug 9, 2010

Well i got the alternator off. Im taking both the alternator and battery to the auto store. That way they can charge the battery for me before testing it.. its drained. FREE charge =]

Slykin · Aug 9, 2010

Nice, tell us how it all ends up.

Twista · Aug 9, 2010

WTH the alternator tested good. Now they have to charge up the battery and test it.

I mean... it doesnt seem like the battery

sn95gtvert · Aug 9, 2010

this happened last night to my friends fox. he bought a battery drove to my house, we installed a spare alt i have had for some time. then we returned the battery and push started the fox. old battery's still good.