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Anonymous Posted on Jan 19, 2012

The garage says my car needs a new alternator. I don't know much about engines how can I know this is true? Juliet

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Anonymous

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  • Master 501 Answers
  • Posted on Jan 19, 2012
Anonymous
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Joined: Nov 28, 2010
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If you are constantly having your battery go dead frequently I would first check your battery, first to see if both the positive and negative cables are tight and making a good connection (if they are loose your battery will not charge properly) also look for signs of corrosion on the battery posts as well and check the batteries in service date which should be a sticker with a month and a year punched out. Batteries are mainly rated to last between 3-8 years. The garage should have a tester to allow them to check the output of the alternator while the vehicle is running. I'd ask them to show you that. Also lets say for instance you have a 60 amp alternator, at idle your alternator would produce less of a charge as opposed to driving down the freeway at 65 mph so if they show you that have them idle the engine rpms up and you should see an increase if not then you may have a worn out alternator. Some alternators can cost a lot so I would ask about a rebuild (if applicable) on your existing one to possibly save some money. Just be sure whatever you decide to find out what kind of warranty is included.

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duane_wong

Duane Wong

  • 6826 Answers
  • Posted on Sep 30, 2010

SOURCE: sometimes my car starts & then not. never know

If there is an intermittent problem with starting, I always check the battery connections for cleanliness and wire brush after removing the connections. This is a very common problem on cars of your age., and doesn't take much money to perform.

If the battery, starter, and alternator are functioning correctly, this could very well be the problem.

Otherwise, many places like Walmart or auto parts stores will test and diagnose the starting/charging problem for free or for a nominal fee using a diagnostic machine, which can be effective both in cost and technically in determining the problem.

Good luck on this repair.

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Randy Ohler

  • 14585 Answers
  • Posted on Jul 03, 2011

SOURCE: Hi, if a 1982 Volvo don't start and don't even

It might not start because of a dead battery, starter. Altenators charge the battery. I wouldn't consider buying it, If I counldn't hear it run.

Jonah Oneal

  • 14092 Answers
  • Posted on Nov 29, 2011

SOURCE: car died while driving, cranks, but won't fire, no communication with scan tool as far as engine or transmission. It will communicate with body.

did you say scanner not powering up or you not getting any code.because if engine not firing a faulty crankshaft position sensor or ignition module will cause no spark conditions.also check 20 amp ignition fuse to ignition coils and ignition module,check ignition battery feed 10 amp fuse to the pcm.check at the 16 dlc terminal at top ground terminal 4 that would be fourth terminal top from left to right.and check bottom far right terminal 16 see if you getting getting battery power.if fuse all good no power at terminal 16 your pcm could be getting poor ground contact or problem in the pcm thats not a home fix dealership has to run diagnostic scan test look for pcm fault or wiring fault.

Maxumized

  • 70 Answers
  • Posted on Dec 05, 2011

SOURCE: i have lexus ls430 2001

You need a mechanic to connect car to diagnostic computer or you can buy your own hand held computer from auto parts store and diagnose yourself.

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My 2003 Kia Sedona won't start. The Alternator and battery have been recently replaced. The interior lights come on. It won't jump start. Any ideas?

Alternator doesn't have anything to do with starting the car, it supplies power to the system once the engine runs. Does your starter crank the engine? Do you get spark? Is fuel pressure correct?
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Battery keeps draining even after replacing alternator on 94 gcl 5.2 any ideas

Try this, disconnect the alternator and see if it still drains the alternator, you say new but i know it is rebuilt, and some rebuilders do a terrible job, this is esp true of the so called discount auto parts stores (that is a joke as they often charge more than a dealer) such as O'reilly and others. Buy a Mopar rebuilt if the alternator turns out to be the source of the battery draw down. Also make sure no light inside the truck are on like sun visor lights and so on. Have the battery tested shorted cells cause a draw and will kill the battery overnight, don't over testing new parts as they can be bad, found this out the hard way early in my mechanical career.
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If you don't run the blazer everyday something drains the new battery. is there a known common short. have had it to 3 different garages and no one can figure out the problem

Not that I know of.
If the battery is good, you would have to check every circuit for a power draw. Common problems with any car would be the alternator, a relay, or a light on.
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Ford v10 triton engine alternator won't charge brand new

I had a similar problem on my 98 Tioga (Ford v10). Turnd out to be just a blown fuse in the cab (wich controls the alternator's regulator.) First, confirm its the charging system and not the battery it's self. To do this, start the engine and take a voltage reading at the battery. It should be above 13 volts. If you don't have a tester, with the engine running, disconnect a battery terminal. If the engine stalls, it's proff the alternator is not out putting as it should. Check for a blown or missing fuse. Anything labeled "intrusment cluster" or "Alt" (maybe 14). If the fuses are ok you'll likely need to replace the alternator it's self. On those engines it's not hard to do. Only takes about 20 min and the the alternators are around $130. But defiantly check the fuses first.
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Hi , I bought a 07 golf tdi last year , engine management light came on within month , the garage kept saying it is just a sensor and nothing too worry about , had a full service in dec and it came back on...

First of all you need to find a new garage that isn't just telling you what they don't know. If it were just a filter they would have replaced it and watched you drive away with a smile on your face. There is nothing better than a happy customer. The other thing is that you don't mention if the ****** is a manual or automatic. The ****** could be a bunch of different problems depending on type of ******. Also Volkswagen's are noted for many sensor problems. There are many sensors that can throw a code if they even malfunction for a second. Wish I could help more, but the information is to vague.
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I have 2007 Peugeot 407 and periodically when i start the car the central screen with GPS and Stereo does not start. About ten to twelve minutes later it will activate and the stereo will start and the...

Just from word of mouth I don't know how true this is however, I have heard that alot of European cars are voltage sensitive and all you may need is a new battery. Sounds like when the car runs the alternator will charge the battery giving you correct voltage. This may also be why its periodic due to the alternating temperatures from morning to afternoon etc, the older the battery the harder it gets to maintain amps at start up. Ya never know ifya havent tryed it.
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My 88 Tracer started having problems with all dash lights being on. Then a day or two later over heated lost all antifreeze except small amt in overflow. Let it cool added some to radiator and overflow....

OK, first, I think it may be the alternator. If you charge the battery overnight, the engine should run for about an hour before it discharges again.
I don't think the coolant should affect the wiring.

There may be a fuse panel for the high current fuses in the engine compartment. It should be 30 amp or higher.

Does the generator/alternator/battery light come on when the key is in ON position?

What engine? 1.9L or 1.8L?
VIN Number?


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New alternator puts out 11.7 volts. Changed it for another which is also putting out 11.7 volts. Changed double female connector; no help.

First, make sure that the alternator is properly grounded.
Second, with what are you measuring it? I have a couple of cheap ($10-$30) Chinese-made digital voltmeters around my garage that I know for a fact don't measure DC voltage accurately. They tell me a battery has 11 volts, and I dig out my trusty 40-year-old analog voltmeter with a cracked face and it accurately reports 12.6 volts as it should. Also, the digital meters also drift like crazy when I try to measure resistance with them.
I don't know why, but it seems that you cannot buy a reliable voltmeter for less than $125 any more.
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My 2005 yukon xl denali won't start this am,called a AAA battery expert and told me that i have a problem with alternator.he did a charging system test and it showed that no load---15.39v and loaded...

If your alternator is actually charging at 15.39V then yes the alternator internal regulator is at fault, and will need replacing. It can actually over-charge the battery, and heat it up to dangerous levels. The vehicle will start to shut down and act strange if voltage gets below 10.8V or above 15.2V. I'd recommend getting a second opinion on the voltage the alternator is putting out. Go to a reliable garage or large auto parts retailer and have it checked again. Ultimately it sounds like you will need a new alternator.
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