symtoms of a anternator

[89GP_SE]

ok so my gf's dad calls me up, car died again and needed a boost.

 

boost the car, and right away it died.

after 3 times it started.

as soon as I took the cables off it died, but he was able to start it right away, then it stalled 4 times in the parking lot but it would start on its own power. take the car to his work which is a heated garage. let it idle. I tuned on the heater, the lights were on and i hit the brakes a few times, the lights dimmed slightly but not very much.

 

his car is a 90 lumina with the 3.1.

 

I can also hear a little bit of squeeling sound from the alternator, as if the bearings are started to give up.

 

its hard for me to say if it is the alternator or not, when it happened to me on the gp, it was a pretty dead giveaway because the bearings seized and shot out the back of the alternator, but I cant figure it out on this one.

 

what do you guys think, would a bad alternator cause the car to stall out, and then work sometimes and sometimes not.

[Crazy K]

sounds like a case of undercharging. I had an alt fail like that, and I've seen many others do the same... the alternator still charges but only delivers a fraction of what it should deliver, but enough so the charge light never illuminates. take the alt to a auto store and have it tested... and replace.