Weird problems today

[Liquid_force]

It was over 100 today. Made about a 30 mi hwy drive, stopped at the mall for a 1/2 hr or so, then spent 15 min or so basically idling in traffic with the A/C on.
After about 10 min the A/C started disengaging (blowing warm), but would occasionally kick back on. At the same time the temp gauge got up to 80 or 90% on the gauge.
Eventually I started noticing the dash instruments (most noticeably the tach) zeroing out, but I didn't notice the car stumble.
Drove a mile or so, got to where I was going, turned it off.
15 min later it acted like the battery is dead.

The weirdest thing is that as I was trying to jump it - as soon as I let off the key the wipers would wipe once for no reason -- switch was off.
The jump didn't seem to improve the electrical system's strength.
It tried to crank once or twice, otherwise just the usual dead battery clicking.

For some reason I was completely confused at the time, but now it seems pretty obvious that my alt failed. When it was going on -- the wiper thing and tach drop out was baffling me. I thought it was one of those weird hard to find (expensive) electrical glitches.
Hopefully it was just an unusually low voltage condition causing things to go batty.

Very glad I got where I was going. Wife, 12 y/o and 4 y/o were with me and right toward the end of the trip there was a long steep climb on a narrow 2 lane with steady traffic. If it had died there I would have been SCREWED.

Since I wasn't very close to home I had to have it towed. I expect they're going to want to charge me $300 or 400 for an alt replacement which I'm probably going to have to agree to because of where it's at.
I've done the alt before - I didn't find it to be too difficult. It's really going to suck paying that bill.

 

[Liquid_force]

Yep, alt.

Surprised by the quote. $365 BEFORE parts.

So I'm going to buy a backup battery and limp it home so I can save myself $300.

Thankfully the alt is lifetime replacement.

 

[sperold]

Good choice.
You might be able to make it with just your own fully charged battery, but that probably means buying a charger. I would disconnect the headlights (if you have the daylight running lights) and use no electrical accessories.

 

[partsguy]

Maybe invest in a jump pack as well. I had my alt go and was able to make it an extra 20 miles at night with that attached.

 

[Liquid_force]

Advance didn't want to take the alt back on warranty. It tested ok 3x on their test bench.
I insisted it had failed on the car, cost me a breakdown in the 100 degree weather, a $90 tow and a $55 diagnosis from a good shop.
Obviously, working on a test bench in a 70 degree store isn't the same as on an engine in at 150 degrees.
However, after running elect diagnostics on my car they eventually admitted that alt failure was the most likely cause and covered me on the cost of the replacement.

 

[SHOZ123]

Get some reflective bubble wrap and put it between the back of the alternator and the exhaust manifold.