Car dieing

Mithrandir · Post by **Mithrandir** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 9:30 pm

Well either my battery or alternator or both are dieing. Everything in my car kept getting dimmer no matter what so i think its the alt, but usually the alt being bad kills the battery so it could be both. I shut off my car and it wouldnt start. Came back a half hour later and it started right up and lights were perfectly bright for a few seconds then got slightly dim so Im not sure what it is. Any ideas?

JeremyC · Post by **JeremyC** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 12:05 am

Mith try this. Start the car, and shoot for voltage at the battery. If you see 12 to 13 its the Alt. If it still reads 14, turn on the lights and stereo, and have some one rev the car up a little. If it drops to 12 or 13 its probably the Alt. If it still reads 13.5 to 14.4 its probaby going to be the battery, but I would have it checked by a professional.

Thats my favorite quick ckeck of the system. Its not 100%, but if the alt is truely dead, you will catch it every time.

Oh yeah. IMO it sounds like the Alt, but its better to check "just in case".

Chris from MI · Post by **Chris from MI** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 6:19 am

I am going to guess its the alt. also. You can always pull either of them out (or both) and have someone run ya up to the nearest Autozone or something. They could at least check to see which is bad if not both. But like I said I think it sounds like an alt. to me.

Post by **GlassWolf** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 8:31 am

actually I'm going to put my money on the starter or battery.
If the alternator was ging bad, you'd get really wonky things happening with your gauges and such, and I didn't see mention of teh gauges going haywire.

Mithrandir · Post by **Mithrandir** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 8:41 am

yeah kiki, i forgot to mention that actually before it dieing more and more lights came on such as check engine, abs, coolant, battery. Yeah im pretty sure its the alt. Sigh i was hoping it was just the battery, i was gonna buy a red top lol. Did that alt die from my system, its 900 rms at full tilt which its never ran at, its ran that 3/4 or a little over. All gains are set very respectfully (i think thats the word i want lol). The problem with it being the system is that the lights only dimmed very little when I ran it and only at idle. I wanna get an HO alt but there is no way to get one by monday and i dont wanna buy a brand new one and an HO alt. I mean if i can get my new one rebuilt to make more power ok, but Beers electric downtown said only certain alts can be rebuilt so ill have to call em. Being that its a sunfire and 95 the alt should be cheap, less then 100 im hoping.

Also i never really removed one, im pretty sure its easy. Just a few bolts huh?
The belt is what im not sure about, is there a tensioner or somthing that needs to be adjusted or no?

Chris from MI · Post by **Chris from MI** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 9:50 am

Well with 900 watts you where pulling about 60-65 amps just for your system. Not sure what the output on the stock alt is for a sunfire though. I don't think it was just the system that killed it.

As for changing the alt. I have never done one on a sunfire b4. Most of the time it is a simple job though, usually held on by 2 or 3 bolts. Now in some cases they can be a total pain in the ass though. (not sure on your vehicle) I know for my girlfriends Taurus I have to have a special off set wrench to get to the damn pully. (which i have had to do twice). There will be a tensioner pully that will be spring loaded (obviously) and you can get on the nut in the center and relieve the tension to get the belt off. After the belts off take the bolts off the alt and remove it. Slap the new one in bolt it down and then put your belt back on. Check the belt while you got it apart and make sure its in good condition. It already apart if it needs to be replaced. The belt should only fit correctly one way. Check the belt diagram (somewhere under the hood) to make sure it is routed correctly though. Usually not much to them. I know for my mustang I can change the alt in about 15 min.

Mithrandir · Post by **Mithrandir** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 12:40 pm

i have no belt diagram, i am looking for one now, i have it on but not sure if its right.

Chris from MI · Post by **Chris from MI** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 12:56 pm

Thats wierd. I know mine is on the underside of my hood. It will usually only fit correct the one way but you want to be sure its right.

Post by **GlassWolf** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 1:26 pm

replacing an alternator is a matter of 3 bolts, and a belt, and usually a few wires. that's about it. not that hard.
You could check ebay for one with buy now, and have it overnighted.

Mithrandir · Post by **Mithrandir** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 1:55 pm

well i got one 105 amp, 80 bucks with core turned in and a new serp belt because mine had a cord hangin off. total of 100 bucks. It works now and the belt is on right and i checked it after 15 minutes and it seems ok.

btw i was naked when i typed this