Author Topic: Bad Alternator? (Read 5893 times)

Clankin-Rabbit · « **on:** February 19, 2008, 11:04:49 am »

Okay well I did something bad...I bought a cheap battery (Everstart from Walmart) for my Rabbit to get it running quickly (and cheaply as possible). The battery worked the first day we got the car running and it made it 30 miles around my neighborhood. Now I can't go more than 5 mins. off the battery charger (battery runs down) down the road without it dying and not wanting to start because the battery is dead.

I really dont think it's the battery, and I did have a loose alternator bracket, but it is now tight and it still dies every time less than a mile from my house. I always have to get a tow from my sisters boyfriend home. Once I charge the batt for 5 mins it's good enough to start and run on its own but will soon loose charge and the headlights will dim and it will die.

So I'm guessing its dead? Anybody ever have these symptoms w/ theirs going bad? I have pretty much answered my problem, I just want to make sure. I'm going to pull it out soon and have it tested.

jtanguay · « **Reply #1 on:** February 19, 2008, 11:20:31 am »

i would have it tested before you rule it out. they're not that hard to take out... mine will come out in less than 2-5 mins, but that is because i put some anti seize on the nuts & bolts.. if you haven't touched it yet, it might be somewhat difficult to break the rusty bolts.

it could also be the connection from the alternator to the starter, to the battery. lots of current flowing through there, and electrolysis does bad things to wires :lol:

shegel · « **Reply #2 on:** February 19, 2008, 12:45:33 pm »

take the battery and the alternator to the local checkers/shucks/kragen. and get them both tested. i work at shucks and people bring both in all the time. plus its free to have em tested, so why not

Clankin-Rabbit · « **Reply #3 on:** February 21, 2008, 11:01:36 am »

I'm definitley going to get them both tested but it's more than likely the alternator.

But as I'm thinking about it, jtanguay you brought up a very very good point. this car was sitting outside standing all the elements and wasn't running for a good year. The engine fired right up after we got the t-belt on it and currently runs fine when I start it. But It was experiencing an ignition problem after we got it running and turned it off. We couldn't get it to turn over again, so we flicked the starter wire a few times and it fired right up. A few times when I've tried starting it, it's had this problem. Electrically on the dash/lights everything is good...but it has had this wierd problem. I may have to test the wires, maybe replace some?

Hmm...good point. :? thanks guys.

jtanguay · « **Reply #4 on:** February 21, 2008, 04:04:51 pm »

i soldered the wire right onto the starter... it actually broke off one day :shock: wondered why the hell the car wouldn't start :lol:

Baselyne · « **Reply #5 on:** February 22, 2008, 11:34:00 am »

Ive looked for hours to find that same damn red wire totaly corroded and snapped off... Such a hard thing to find when your late for work on minus 25 degree canadian winter morning.... it's amazing how something right in-front of you could leave you looking over the bay for hours

an then when you called into work and got the day off I find the wire fix it in 3 minuites and get busted driving by my boss when I told em my car would'nt start...

No honest I just fixed it....lol

Author Topic: Bad Alternator? (Read 5893 times)

Baselyne