GPdriver1986 Posted November 4, 2004 Report Posted November 4, 2004 I got to school today and basicly the car was running fine the voltage was 1 line below 13V the whole way, then when I got to school I checked under the hood just to see if everything was fine (alternator), so I turn off the engine and I try to start it up again, it needs a boost. Last night i saw the voltage drop too and this morning i started the engine up and it was reading normally just above 13V. But while driving for about 20 minutes it just dropped below 13V I'm going to get a boost from CAA (AAA) but what should i replace the battery or the alternator? BTW the only electrical thing i have done in the car for the past year of owning it was a deck which i made sure the wiring was secure and safe. And its been in my car for the past 4 months. Quote
jeremy Posted November 4, 2004 Report Posted November 4, 2004 sounds like an alternator issue........take it out (~15minutes) and get it tested at Autozone or a similiar store.... Quote
GPdriver1986 Posted November 4, 2004 Author Report Posted November 4, 2004 should i replace the battery first though? Quote
sl3196 Posted November 4, 2004 Report Posted November 4, 2004 Yeah get the alternator tested. Also it wouldn't hurt to throw the battery on a trickle charger overnight. Quote
sl3196 Posted November 4, 2004 Report Posted November 4, 2004 should i replace the battery first though? Charge it first and see how it does. How old is the battery? Quote
GPdriver1986 Posted November 4, 2004 Author Report Posted November 4, 2004 well i guess i'm gonna have limp over with a CAA boost, to crappy tire and get the thing tested Quote
GPdriver1986 Posted November 4, 2004 Author Report Posted November 4, 2004 i'm not sure how old the battery is because i bought the car used and i know the alternator looked sort of new when i bought the car. Quote
sl3196 Posted November 4, 2004 Report Posted November 4, 2004 Yeah just charge the battery overnight and see how it does then. Quote
jeremy Posted November 4, 2004 Report Posted November 4, 2004 i'm not sure how old the battery is because i bought the car used and i know the alternator looked sort of new when i bought the car. even "new" alternators can go bad quickly... Quote
Regal_GS_1989 Posted November 4, 2004 Report Posted November 4, 2004 Boy, you got guts, i would never trust any vehicle to crappy tire ever(again). They just have a way of fucking everything up. Went to get a leaky fuel line fixed on an 88 New yorker(POS with Wheels), and it came out with no brakes. took a lumina to get a tire fixed(Motormaster SE), Rim came back with out center logo, and they somehow forgot to balance the tire too. To get it tested, i would take it to Partsource, midas, ANYWHERE BUT CRAPPY TIRE. Quote
GPdriver1986 Posted November 4, 2004 Author Report Posted November 4, 2004 I hate crappy tire soo much but partsource is also owned by them, what we need here in Canada is autozone or pepboys. Quote
DiscoStudd Posted November 4, 2004 Report Posted November 4, 2004 If you don't know how old the battery is, get a new one just to be safe. Another thing most people overlook is battery cables. Toss on a new set, cause the ones on your car are more than likely on their way out, seeing as the car's a 91. Old crappy battery cables make the alternator work harder (imagine trying to breathe through a straw, that would be a good analogy) and will cause it to burn out quicker... Quote
HokemBokem Posted November 4, 2004 Report Posted November 4, 2004 My battery has two posts on the side and an AUX red on the top. If I ever have to jup start it where do I put the jumper cables? Quote
sl3196 Posted November 4, 2004 Report Posted November 4, 2004 My battery has two posts on the side and an AUX red on the top. If I ever have to jup start it where do I put the jumper cables? I put the positive on the aux. post. You can put it on the other post too but watch out for the belt. Quote
HokemBokem Posted November 4, 2004 Report Posted November 4, 2004 My battery has two posts on the side and an AUX red on the top. If I ever have to jup start it where do I put the jumper cables? I put the positive on the aux. post. You can put it on the other post too but watch out for the belt. Are you saying put the positive on the AUX post and the negative on the black one on the side of the battery? Quote
DiscoStudd Posted November 4, 2004 Report Posted November 4, 2004 Put the positive on the Aux post, and the negative on the dogbone bolt closest to the battery... Quote
GTPrix Posted November 4, 2004 Report Posted November 4, 2004 Any ground would work for the negative cable ( metal body structure). Drew Quote
HokemBokem Posted November 4, 2004 Report Posted November 4, 2004 Put the positive on the Aux post, and the negative on the dogbone bolt closest to the battery... Allright thanks alot I was wondering because the little posts on the side of the battery are so small and theres just a little space to get to them. Quote
Regal_GS_1989 Posted November 4, 2004 Report Posted November 4, 2004 I hate crappy tire soo much but partsource is also owned by them, what we need here in Canada is autozone or pepboys. Right On 8) I'm totally with you on that one. Canada really needs some good autoparts stores. Quote
HokemBokem Posted November 4, 2004 Report Posted November 4, 2004 I hate crappy tire soo much but partsource is also owned by them, what we need here in Canada is autozone or pepboys. Right On 8) I'm totally with you on that one. Canada really needs some good autoparts stores. Here in Arizona we have one on every corner. Checker, Auto Zone, NAPA, Pep Boys, ect... Quote
GPdriver1986 Posted November 4, 2004 Author Report Posted November 4, 2004 Here in Arizona we have one on every corner. Checker, Auto Zone, NAPA, Pep Boys, ect... Yes I know what its like whenever i go to the states i feel like i'm in car part heaven, GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anyways I got back to the car after 2 hrs of classes to see if it would start, it did, so I drove it down the road to Partsource about 3 miles. I left the car running in the parking lot and i asked inside if they could test the battery , the guy was like "pull over here man" so i went outside and when i got into the car the guage was just down at the redline and basicly it just died. So the guy got a voltmeter and tested my battery it said 11.48 V then he asked me to crank it and he said the voltage dropped to like 2V. So i bought a re-man alternator for 112$ and the guy told me "just make sure you recharge the battery, man". So now i'm gonna change the altenator when i get the car over to my house because it needs a tow and its raining outside and my wipers were barely working. I'm gonna let the battery settle down so i don't drain it completley. Quote
HokemBokem Posted November 4, 2004 Report Posted November 4, 2004 Here in Arizona we have one on every corner. Checker, Auto Zone, NAPA, Pep Boys, ect... Yes I know what its like whenever i go to the states i feel like i'm in car part heaven, GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anyways I got back to the car after 2 hrs of classes to see if it would start, it did, so I drove it down the road to Partsource about 3 miles. I left the car running in the parking lot and i asked inside if they could test the battery , the guy was like "pull over here man" so i went outside and when i got into the car the guage was just down at the redline and basicly it just died. So the guy got a voltmeter and tested my battery it said 11.48 V then he asked me to crank it and he said the voltage dropped to like 2V. So i bought a re-man alternator for 112$ and the guy told me "just make sure you recharge the battery, man". So now i'm gonna change the altenator when i get the car over to my house because it needs a tow and its raining outside and my wipers were barely working. I'm gonna let the battery settle down so i don't drain it completley. Damn alternators are 112 bucks :shock: Anyway good luck with that and update us when finished and tell us if everything works correctly. Quote
Regal_GS_1989 Posted November 4, 2004 Report Posted November 4, 2004 Damn alternators are 112 bucks :shock: Anyway good luck with that and update us when finished and tell us if everything works correctly. How much are they out there Hokem :?: :?: :?: Just a bit curious. Quote
HokemBokem Posted November 4, 2004 Report Posted November 4, 2004 Damn alternators are 112 bucks :shock: Anyway good luck with that and update us when finished and tell us if everything works correctly. How much are they out there Hokem :?: :?: :?: Just a bit curious. I didnt know because I never had to buy one. I just looked it up though on Checker and its about the same. 80 to 140 dollars. Quote
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