Is this my altenator??

[89SHOduff]

Yesterday I went and got gas and when I tried to start it back up it was really struggling to turn over. It wouldnt turn over fully so I had to pop the clutch. sometimes it turns over and now it is starting to do this. Could this be my altenator? My battery light does come on sometimes when it gets started up. As soon as I give it gas though, the light goes off. Any comments would be great. thanks..

 

[BlackOnBlackATX]

i personally think it sounds like your battery since the car seems to actually *run* fine from what you say, but i guess that light only comes on when its the alternator thats troubled, right? (anyone, anyone?) you should put a voltmeter on the battery and see what its putting out, or take it to autozone or pepboys or whereever and let them test it. you can also take your alternator to them and have it tested, although it is a bit of a pain to remove it just to test it. let us know how it goes.

 

[adidasho]

the battery light comes on when there is voltage difference between the ignition switch and ground, which is why it comes on when you turn the key to the on position before you start the car. When the alternator kicks in, it sends voltage to the ground side of the indicator lamp and shuts it off, so if the alternator isn't working properly it will trigger the light. A simple test is to put a voltmeter across the battery, start the car and let it run, and if the voltage climbs to about 14.5, your alternator is working properly.

 

[99VenomSVT]

89SHOduff:
Yesterday I went and got gas and when I tried to start it back up it was really struggling to turn over. It wouldnt turn over fully so I had to pop the clutch. sometimes it turns over and now it is starting to do this. Could this be my altenator? My battery light does come on sometimes when it gets started up. As soon as I give it gas though, the light goes off. Any comments would be great. thanks..

One thing to remember, If your battery is smoked you should get it replaced soon because you are driving around on the altenator and that is not good.

 

[89SHOduff]

thanks guys. I'm gonna get it tested tomorrow after work. They test it for free right? I hope so..

Oh yeah and Dave, I don't think my battery is bad because I just had it recharged about a month or two ago. Although the altenator could drain it out again right? At the time I recharged my battery my altenator pulley was replaced. I hope it's not too expensive of a job, or Im gonna have to get another jobby job headbang

 

[89SHOduff]

One more thing to add - The battery light only comes on as soon as I start it, but as soon as I gas it, it goes away. Also in the morning it has no trouble. Only seems to do this when I shut the car off for a minute or two and then try to restart it, it struggles, and I do this headbang

 

[99VenomSVT]

89SHOduff:
One more thing to add - The battery light only comes on as soon as I start it, but as soon as I gas it, it goes away. Also in the morning it has no trouble. Only seems to do this when I shut the car off for a minute or two and then try to restart it, it struggles, and I do this headbang

This definately sounds like you need a battery. Think about it, The light only comes on while you are cranking the engine (alternator not spinning full speed or full charge) but when the engine starts running and you rev the alternator is now spinning at full speed and will put out enough juice to keep the car running.
If you continue driving the car around on alternator power then you will over work the alternator and **** it.
I advise you go to Autozone like you said and have them load test the battery.

 

[projectSHO89]

Start by servicing your battery and alternator connections if you have not already done so.

Corroded connections can give all of these symptoms and lead to further failures including the battery and alternator.

Steve

 

[TVSHO]

I just had this EXACT same problem. It was the alternator!

Tom
'94 ATX