Complete loss of power? 93 ATX

[Ragecrow]

Drove my car fine to work and at lunch. Went to start it after work and got nothing. no crank, no electrical power at all. Had a buddy jump me and the car started so I drove it straight home. Turn signals did not work for the ride home and the panel for the climate would flash all on every once in a while. When I got it home and shut it off (45 minutes), I tried to start it right away and got NOTHING again. The battery is 10 days old and I know it holds charge and works just fine. This is a new car to me so I have no idea what could be wrong. Any ideas from the symptoms?

 

[NiNeTy Fo SHO]

Sounds like an alternator. Things didnt work on your way home b/c there wasnt much juice. Your battery is probably dead b/c your alternator isnt charging it.

If the battery was charged and it didnt crank when you turned the key...it could then be your starter. Being that you jumped it and it cranked with no problems...your battery is dead. Now you got a dead battery...and your alternator isnt doing its job.

 

[Ragecrow]

I was kinda thinking alternator but did want to put any ideas out there until I heard someone else say it as I am not extremely familiar with the SHO.

 

[NiNeTy Fo SHO]

You could take it to Autozone, Advance, etc. and they will test it for free. They can tell you if its the battery, alternator, etc.

Although...you have to get it there...and get it home.

I think they will charge your battery for free too. You could remove it, have them charge it, and reinstall. If all problems go away for a short time and then return, you know its the alternator. You could also used the charged battery to drive it to Auto place of choice.

 

[Ragecrow]

Yeah if I jump the battery, it runs until I turn the car off again and then goes dead so I can get it somewhere. Is there anything to putting a new alternator in these cars? I have done one on VW's a few times and it isnt a hard install on them. I have a battery charger at home so Ill pull the battery and get her charged while I replace the alternator.

 

[Ragecrow]

New alternator doesnt explain the turn signals not working. Where is the fuse for turn signals?

 

[NiNeTy Fo SHO]

New alternator doesnt explain the turn signals not working. Where is the fuse for turn signals?

It actually might. If the voltage was very low on the battery, it may have not been enough to kick over the turn signal relays.

I would get the battery/alternator combo working and then see what other problems still exist.

Changing the alternator can be fairly easy with some tools. You will need some sockets...thats about it for the ATX. Its on top, and in my opinion, just about like changing one on any other car.

I'll stop posting now and let someone else help.

 

[projectSHO89]

Before replacing anything, get a voltmeter and actually measure the battery voltage while running and with the engine off.

Alternators are expensive and replacing one without doing any valid testing seems unwise.

Steve

 

[Ragecrow]

Thanks for the advice. I will do that tonight when I get some time. I did price out an alternator and they are $188 around here so more spendy that I thought they were...

 

[95azSHO]

I'm curently expirenceing the exact same thing. My ALT is less than 2 years old so it under warenty I'm getting it tested today. I agree with the loss of the turn sig. Since your in the area of the Batt cables give them a look, an ounce of prevention goes a long way. Of which I'm now learing.

 

[95azSHO]

After diging around the engine a couple of tmes I got it down to about 1/2 an hour. You need a cheater bar for the tensioner it makes it a lot easier. Also a shallow 17mm sockett its pretty tight around there.

 

[wood_e]

Thanks for the advice. I will do that tonight when I get some time. I did price out an alternator and they are $188 around here so more spendy that I thought they were...

I had my alternator rebuilt by a local shop in Ames. It was $75 and it was a good job.

 

[Ragecrow]

I hooked up the battery and alternator to my handy dandy volt meter and everything read normal. I then cleaned up all of the battery connections and that seemed to do the trick. The only thing that isnt working still is the turn signals. I drove the car to work this morning and it ran fine with the exception of the turn signals not working at all. wierd...

 

[Ragecrow]

I did a search and I guess it may be the MFS. I did turn my hazards on and off and that seems to somehow cause the no turn signal problem. Dimmer lights and the wipers still work fine tho... It is just the hazards and the turn signals that do not work now.