Alternator???

[cobrakidd03]

The other night I took the SHO for a 20 min ride. The lights would dim a little when I came to a complete stop and the heater would also slow down. So I went back home put it in the garage and shut it down then I started it again and the battery was dead. The weird thing is that the battery light never came on. The battery is a year old.

 

[deercrusher]

easy way to tell is just disconnect the battery while the car is running - if it dies it is the alternator.

 

[cobrakidd03]

I thought that is not good on the electrical system? and would I disconnect both battery cables?

 

[deercrusher]

i always just disconnect the negative cable. It won't hurt anything.

 

[cobrakidd03]

ok ill give that a try.

 

[ultimatesho]

sounds like it...just run it to autozone or advance and they test em for free

 

[cobrakidd03]

I had it running and pulled the neg batt cable and she died but i will go to the parts store also. Damn these are expensive!!

 

[jeffrotech]

Yep! Mine crapped out last night on the way home... almost made it.

$93 thru Roackauto... looks like $200 elsewhere.

 

[cobrakidd03]

$93.00 through rockauto? I seen it was 175.00

 

[raff18]

what year is ur car
atx or mtx?

 

[cobrakidd03]

mine is a 94 ATX

 

[Phoenix]

sounds like it...just run it to autozone or advance and they test em for free

Again , I have seen several alts (from people here) that tested good , but wasnt good. These testers dont seem to be 100% reliable.

Cobra , its most likely the alt that is faulty. It doesnt HAVE to bring the light on.

 

[badcamelot]

Agreed. I had a torrid time with dead batteries and alternators etc. They all 'tested' fine at the auto parts store, when in fact they were not 'fine'. Dont trust that comfort zone of "it bench tested ok". I was told the hand held testers they use for when you drive your car there arent very good, but if you remove it and we can put it in our machine we can know for sure - uh no.
It sounds almost certain to be your alternator.
I called everywhere in town, even the guys that rebuild your own. They all came in around the $150 amount. I did come across a website that sells them for $135, free frieght and no core. I HAVE NOT PURCHASED ANYTHING FROM THIS SOURCE AND CANNOT THEREFORE VERIFY THEY ARE EVEN LIGIT, but this might help you if indeed it is for real.

http://www.alternatorpros.com/Alternators.htm

Good luck.

 

[badcamelot]

I just went to the website again and now the price for my 93 3.2 is $144 so they went up $9. But again I dont know their quality etc etc.

 

[cobrakidd03]

Thanks for all your input!!