Ramma2 Posted June 10, 2005 Report Share Posted June 10, 2005 The olds died on me on the way to work today. Sat on the freeway for 45 mins waiting for the towtruck to come, got visited by both the highway helpers and state patrol. eh. The problem I believe started in the steering column. The turn signals started to act up. Turning right would work fine, but if I went to turn left the blinker would stay solid unless I pulled back on the blinker lever a bit (like almost turning on the brights). Then the blinker would work. So this goes on for a few days, then today it hits the fan. Driving in and everything starts to flicker. Radio off and on, lights off an on, tach and speedo reading much higher than they should have been. Finally radio and lights just quit, but I'm still driving. Then the low traction and E brake lights start to flicker together. I let off the gas to slow down for traffic, then when I get on it again there's nothing there. Not enough juice for the fuel pump probably. I coast to a stop on the side of the road and wait. I had it towed to a shop, I don't like it when other people are working on my car. I hope its nothing major, the car has 180k miles on it and its right there where it may be time to decide on a new car or not depending on how much the repair bill is. Meh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZoomZoomFan Posted June 10, 2005 Report Share Posted June 10, 2005 :x That sucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo Posted June 10, 2005 Report Share Posted June 10, 2005 deffinately a wire exposed in the column. Time to hit up the junk yard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1138 Posted June 10, 2005 Report Share Posted June 10, 2005 UGH why did you have it towed to a shop?? It's most likely the remote positive nut on the driver strut tower. It's probably come loose, and that can cause all kinds of little electrical problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted June 10, 2005 Report Share Posted June 10, 2005 UGH why did you have it towed to a shop?? What was he supposed to take it to Bed Bath and Beyond? sorry man... but that sucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramma2 Posted June 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2005 UGH why did you have it towed to a shop?? It's most likely the remote positive nut on the driver strut tower. It's probably come loose, and that can cause all kinds of little electrical problems. I know, it sucked to do that, but I really didn't have much for options. When its a problem that I know about, and have time to research it, then I can take care of it myself. This is one of those things where it needs to get fixed, I don't have any other backup transportation. And since I was 20 miles from home and late for work, it went to the nearest shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdcutty Posted June 10, 2005 Report Share Posted June 10, 2005 I would say either that remote pos. wire or a main ground wire somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramma2 Posted June 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2005 Well the shop called, they said its the alternator. 500$. I laughed on the inside. Looks like I'll be doing some parking lot mechanic work this evening. If thats even really the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiscoStudd Posted June 10, 2005 Report Share Posted June 10, 2005 I know the feeling, man. The nut worked itself loose from my Regal's AUX post last fall, and I was stranded on the side of the freeway with 75 MPH traffic racing by me. I was in that sort-of "rushed panic" state cause I feared getting creamed by an oncoming car. Luckily I was able to pull it together enough to recognise what was wrong and act accordingly . Ramma2: What year is your car? Are you having the shop fix your signal switch, or do you plan on doing that yourself? I have a write-up on how to replace the switch on the 94-96's (and 95-99 Montes/Luminas) : http://www.likeabigdog.com/column/94upsignal.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy Posted June 10, 2005 Report Share Posted June 10, 2005 it should be a cake walk changing the alternator... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramma2 Posted June 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2005 Its a 1995, and I've already replaced the turn signal switch when they stopped working about 4 months ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Blue Posted June 10, 2005 Report Share Posted June 10, 2005 That does really suck :x just a quick question for you,when you were playing around with the left turn signal did it happen to smoke at all :?: also did you happen to see if any are all the fuses were blown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramma2 Posted June 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2005 No smoke, and I didn't get to check the fuses. But the alternater is making more sense, the ABS light was comming on all the time and I read here that the ABS system is really voltage sensitive. I hope that swapping out the alt fixes my problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramma2 Posted June 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2005 PS - this is the OEM alt, 178k miles on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo Posted June 10, 2005 Report Share Posted June 10, 2005 What about the belt tensioner. Also the starter neutral switch went once. What a pain in the ass THAT was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramma2 Posted June 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2005 Can someone give a brief rundown on what it takes to replace the alternator? Don't have the car or repair manual handy, trying to prepare for doing this in some parking lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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