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need advice-battery vs. alternator
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esthermiller
New User
May 8, 2007, 9:44 AM
Post #1 of 2
(6732 views)
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need advice-battery vs. alternator
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My Ford Expedition just quit running while driving (no warning lights came on). I had noticed that it had started up a little bit slow the previous week, but that was it, no funny noises. I'm thinking battery or alternator problem. My warranty covers towing and alternator repairs so I have it towed to the local Ford dealer. They said that it is a battery issue and not covered under warranty, and they won't know if it is an alternator problem until they replace the battery. Is this accurate? I asked if the alternator could cause the battery to fail and they said "not usually" meaning that the battery would not be covered under warranty. I don't want to be taken advantage of because I don't know cars. Any Advice??????
(This post was edited by esthermiller on May 8, 2007, 9:55 AM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 8, 2007, 10:29 AM
Post #2 of 2
(6716 views)
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Re: need advice-battery vs. alternator
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Battery and kill alternator and vice versa. In car an alternator won't work without at least some charge in the battery. If it even can click/flutter it should take a jump and would show if alternator is working in car. Otherwise they can be bench tested with a special machine for that and some auto parts stores do that.
A battery over 3yrs is getting beyond it's dependable life no matter what it said it should have been good for. They can fail to a dead short and the alternator tries furiously to fight back and self destructs so that's where you can need both.
If alternator over charges battery it will kill the battery fairly quickly and the regulator was the problem but again can kill them both.
So if older a new battery is not a waste but don't let a new one get killed by a bad alternator which the shop should know. If testing yourself you don't want to see voltage at battery over 14.5 or so or you'll have problems.
I hope that's enough to help you decide what to do,
T
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