Battery or Altenator?

dokken08 · 11-07-2006, 02:17 PM

Ok, so yesterday I am driving home and my battery light comes on the radio shuts off. Once I turn the van off at home it will not restart without a jump.

I go buy a new battery and it works fine the rest of the day. That night I am on my way home from the store and the battery light comes on, the radio shuts off, all the lights dim and then shut off, vehicle shutters and limps back home.

After it sits for a while, it starts right up. While it was running I removed the positive battery cable and the car stopped running.

Is it my battery or alt? I am thinking alt and it looks hard as heck to replace.
Thanks

Inky · 11-07-2006, 05:17 PM

Sadly, it's likely the alternator.

Charge the battery, start the van, and check the voltage across the battery posts. I think it's supposed to be around 14V.

You're right about the alternator being hard to replace. Check this thread.

Raven1210 · 11-07-2006, 09:39 PM

it is the alt the car should stay running with the pos cable off.

dokken08 · 11-08-2006, 11:12 AM

Thanks for the reply guys. I have ordered the alt, not too bad only $140
at AutoZone. But Midas is going to charge another $150 to put it in. Oh well, at least it's paid for.

Inky · 11-08-2006, 01:03 PM

Does the $150 install include recharging the AC? If so, that's a pretty good deal.

dokken08 · 11-08-2006, 05:12 PM

Unknown about the A/C recharge but I will definitely
ask them so they don't try to tack it on at the end.