My car died while driving.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 289
Likes: 3
From: new york
My car died while driving.
1989 6 speed
Battery I would say 3-4yrs old
Alternator replaced 5-7 yrs ago
I was driving Wednesday and my volt light came on. I was at 11.3 it started dropping. It was great I was on a 7 mile bridge, I made it about 5.5 miles over and the car died. Volts where about 6.7.
I charged the battery overnight and it said full charge. I turned the car on 11.4 volts. I tested volts with car off using a multimeeter it was 11.95. I turned the car on and it dropped to 11.74 I turned on AC and the volts stayed around 11.74. I don't have much or any mechanical knowledge. Of what I understand shouldn't the volts go up when car is on since the altenator is charging the battery?
I am pretty sure that the battery is bad I am going to pull it to get it tested today. Unfourtantly since it died while I was driving and the volts i explained above, I think the altenator might be bad. How hard is this to change it looks like it is just a couple of bolts and the large pully. Is there more to replacing this than just taking the bolts of and a few electrical connections and a pully. It looks like I can do it myself.
Thanks in advance
Battery I would say 3-4yrs old
Alternator replaced 5-7 yrs ago
I was driving Wednesday and my volt light came on. I was at 11.3 it started dropping. It was great I was on a 7 mile bridge, I made it about 5.5 miles over and the car died. Volts where about 6.7.
I charged the battery overnight and it said full charge. I turned the car on 11.4 volts. I tested volts with car off using a multimeeter it was 11.95. I turned the car on and it dropped to 11.74 I turned on AC and the volts stayed around 11.74. I don't have much or any mechanical knowledge. Of what I understand shouldn't the volts go up when car is on since the altenator is charging the battery?
I am pretty sure that the battery is bad I am going to pull it to get it tested today. Unfourtantly since it died while I was driving and the volts i explained above, I think the altenator might be bad. How hard is this to change it looks like it is just a couple of bolts and the large pully. Is there more to replacing this than just taking the bolts of and a few electrical connections and a pully. It looks like I can do it myself.
Thanks in advance
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,700
Likes: 1,667
From: moraga ca
If the battery is that old, it's pretty much done and might not be able to hold a charge. Time to change it. Only $50 or so. If the voltage is still low, time for a new alternator. It's pretty easy to change. Actually your simptoms sound more like an alternator problem but the battery is getting pretty close to the end of it's life.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 289
Likes: 3
From: new york
If the battery is that old, it's pretty much done and might not be able to hold a charge. Time to change it. Only $50 or so. If the voltage is still low, time for a new alternator. It's pretty easy to change. Actually your simptoms sound more like an alternator problem but the battery is getting pretty close to the end of it's life.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 289
Likes: 3
From: new york
I drove car to auto parts store. They tested battery and alternator. Battery is good Alternator is bad. They will have the part at 8am for me tomorrow. This is my first time doing an Alt. Any sugestions or resources on the web to help me. I know i need the belt tension tool i am going to use the free rental for it.
* After my 10 mile round trip as I was turning into my parking spot at my apt complex. Car died and would not start. I'm glad I made it home.
* After my 10 mile round trip as I was turning into my parking spot at my apt complex. Car died and would not start. I'm glad I made it home.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 897
Likes: 12
From: Land of Whiskey Rebels, PA
Same thing happened to me--with a new battery. Had the alternator rebuilt for $90. No problems in two years. Happened a mile from home. Glad I wasn't on a bridge.
Removing the alternator is not hard. Keeping the belt lined up with all the pulley wheels while pulling back on the tensioner was a little aggravating, but I got it. You will, too. Tools: Socket set, nut driver, tensioning tool.
You'll be on the road again in no time.
Removing the alternator is not hard. Keeping the belt lined up with all the pulley wheels while pulling back on the tensioner was a little aggravating, but I got it. You will, too. Tools: Socket set, nut driver, tensioning tool.
You'll be on the road again in no time.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 289
Likes: 3
From: new york
Same thing happened to me--with a new battery. Had the alternator rebuilt for $90. No problems in two years. Happened a mile from home. Glad I wasn't on a bridge.
Removing the alternator is not hard. Keeping the belt lined up with all the pulley wheels while pulling back on the tensioner was a little aggravating, but I got it. You will, too. Tools: Socket set, nut driver, tensioning tool.
You'll be on the road again in no time.
Removing the alternator is not hard. Keeping the belt lined up with all the pulley wheels while pulling back on the tensioner was a little aggravating, but I got it. You will, too. Tools: Socket set, nut driver, tensioning tool.
You'll be on the road again in no time.
Thanks for all the info
