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Is it the battery or alternator???
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imhotep
User
Sep 12, 2007, 7:38 AM
Post #1 of 6
(1635 views)
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Is it the battery or alternator???
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This is in regards to a 1998 Pontiac Sunfire 2.2L.
My wife was sitting at a stop light today when the car just turned off. Right before th engine quit the radio died followed by the AC. After that the engine wouldn't start again. She could hear a clicking sound when she turned the key. I drove to the intersection and pushed the car off the road. I successfully jumped the battery and the car started again. She was able to drive it the remaining mile home.
With the car parked in our driveway I tried to reproduce the problem. The car had been sitting not running for perhaps 5 minutes. It barely started, still no radio but the AC was working. I loaded it down by turning on the AC full blast and the headlights. It continued to idle for perhaps 5 more minutes and then I turned it off. Later my wife told me that the battery light had been on all day.
Does this sound like the battery or the alternator? I didn't think a battery failure would manifest itself with the car running. Shouldn't the engine be running off the alternator at all times? The battery was installed brand new 27 months ago. If this sounds like an alternator problem, how can I test for that?
Thanks very much for your help!
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 12, 2007, 1:39 PM
Post #2 of 6
(1627 views)
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Re: Is it the battery or alternator???
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Charge the battery separately from the car's alternator. Now start it and test for output voltage. Should read over 13.5 to about 14.5 even with lights and things on. If not it's almost certainly the alternator. Battery can be cooked by a bad alternator so keep your warranty handy for it,
T
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migbel13
New User
Sep 12, 2007, 11:27 PM
Post #3 of 6
(1624 views)
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Re: Is it the battery or alternator???
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you can test the alternator without taking it off. first losen up the positive terminal but don't disconnect it yet. now turn on the vehicle and then disconnect the positive terminal while the vehicle is on. if the vehicle turns off it means your alternator is bad, if not check the battery.
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imhotep
User
Sep 13, 2007, 5:57 AM
Post #4 of 6
(1621 views)
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Re: Is it the battery or alternator???
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Thanks guys. I'll try these things and report back.
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skyluck
User
Sep 29, 2007, 3:50 PM
Post #6 of 6
(1587 views)
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Re: Is it the battery or alternator???
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hi:
small step to check the alt: first turn your car on at night then turn on the AC if you have a hall light turn it on than turn on your head light on the low and the high
if your hall lamp's light had a big variation of light that mean your alt isn't good.
and if you want to test you batt samr steps but the variation here will be bigger.
good luck
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