Alternator failure

[autobahnsho]

I hate to use the biggest cliche around here-
"Does it ever end?"

I finally figured out my LAST no start problem (Search for "intermittent no start" if you REALLY want to..)
The idiot parts store sold me a bad battery! They put a different one in and all problems disappeared.

Last week I did valve cover/ spark plug well seals replacement. The car's been running super-rough ever since, but 3 plug wires are completely cracked so I'm buying new ones on the 1st. Then if the problem isn't gone I suspect sensors..

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On to the story- tonight I was dropping my son off at a babysitter's (who lives out of town) since I work nighttime guard shift all week, my wife's been in the hospital for a week (she's diabetic and just found out she's pregnant after 7 years (my son is adopted) and had a complication- the Germans are ULTRA-cautious and although she's fine are keeping her through Wednesday) (whew)

The car chugs (due to problem above) and the battery light comes on. I happened to have the multimeter in the car, I'm getting 12.14v running. Wiggled all the cables, no change. The alternator DOES look like it's turning.

I cross my fingers and start driving home- the car ran ok until I parked, a good 10 miles. Now I get 11.96v.

THIS battery has been ok since November. I happen to have an alternator in the basement (thanks Sho-Ripper!) that I will put on tomorrow.

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I have a question, though- How fast do alternators fail??
One minute it was good, now, ????

The fact that there was NO apparent juice coming from the alternator makes me suspicious of cable connections, too..

Anyway, time for work. My home away from my "Sho Maintenance & Troubleshooting" home... madflame

 

[AutoSHO]

Mine failed just like that. One day it was making 14v, the next nothing. As a matter of fact, it was fine when I drove to work, and not charging when I was driving home. Stopped at Checker on the way and picked up an alternator.

 

[autobahnsho]

Took me around 2 hrs. to get my spare alternator in- no battery light and now I have >14.2v again!

Thanks to the suggestions you guys have all given other people putting alts. in- It helped me quite a bit.

I do things the hard way by taking all of the extra junk out of the way, wire brushing the rust of off bolts once I get them out, etc...

<small>[ January 27, 2004, 07:53 AM: Message edited by: autobahnsho ]</small>