Alternator!

[SHOgun89]

hey everybody...

4th of July night. I'm driving around, and get to a stop light. the car randomly stalls; I thought I shifted wrong. I attempt to restart the car, and it won't start; but I'm hearing ticking. I got a jump start, the ticking went away, but didn't start. I waited a few minutes, and the car was running again. the headlights were on, and then after a little driving (on my way back to my house) they went out. so I turned them off. I got home, left the car running with a book on the gas pedal keeping it at 2k rpms for about 20 minutes. when I turned the lights on, they were bright again.

I think I have an alternator problem...am I right? any suggestions? are alternators expensive?

George

 

[Electricat]

Check your battery terminals for looseness or corrosion if you haven't done so already. A failing alternator as you suspect would be my next thought though. I just did a quick price check on partsamerica.com (Advanced Auto and others), a remanufactured alternator will cost you $125-200...ouchie!!

 

[clayton351]

I had the insulator around the large terminal of my alt. melt and was shorting out against the alt. case. the local alt. starter shop fixed it for $7.

 

[SHOgun89]

I was about to buy one from auto zone for $140, it says it's 90 amps...but my friend just told me he heard the one I need is more amps or something? please help, I need my car running...