Alternator [was working!]* battery is dead*

M

mystik

Active member
 i'm from the bay (california)
After 6 years the alternator is now giving me problems. I thought it was the battery bc all I heard was clicking when trying to start Lola (that's her name) and she wouldn't turn over. So I rushed over to a nearby auto store and was about to take the battery out but it was "sufficiently charged". So I asked what the problem could be... It could be the alternator.

That's freakiN whack.

Are reconditioned alternators just as good for our machines? Or do they crave that brand new smell??
 
UK, but a choice of £550 for OEM, or £150 for aftermarket with 2 year warranty.

You can guess whats on my X5 since late last year....
 
You could get it rebuilt, as the main part that goes is the voltage regulator, followed by the brushes and the slip ring. You can lose about 20% of the diodes before you'd notice any power loss.

If you do go down the rebuild route then I'd recommend getting the regulator, brushes & slip ring replaced anyway - even if the brushes & slip-ring look fine, as a small amount of ovalling of the slip-ring will wear/knock out the bushes again quite quickly.
 
So I bought a new alternator. Reconditioned with warranty. 300 dollars including core charge! Damn

now I have to wait til Wednesday afternoon and I get the car back hopefully by this Friday morning. Labor = 300. I'm going to to negotiate. He IS a friend.

---------------

i tried jump starting the car and all I heard was clicking. Then it wouldn't do anything at all. Road side assistance came thru and jump started it. Now it's at an auto shop awaiting service to begin on Tuesday. Damn
 
got my results back from the shop regarding the tests they ran to fix my poor baby.

it just needs a new battery!! what the funk, man! the alternator is as good as new, too. nothing was wrong with it from the start!

i don't get it though..

what's the point in having that stupid little green dot on the battery if they cant even keep accurate readings???

whatever the case may be... i only shelled out 230 bucks for a new OEM battery, diagnostics, and installation (with a warranty!).

//case closed
 
Wel I hope you found the problem, which given the tests sounds good.

Internal charge indicators are not reliable. Be aware though if you just swapped in a new battery then if the aternator were faulty it would not show up yet as you have a nice new charge battery. Don't think this is the case as you had tests run
 
the supposed "test" they ran simulated the load it takes to start the car on the alternator and starter and found no problems. They then supposedly checked to see if the battery would keep it's charge and it wouldn't.

something along those ones is what they told me.

I'm still worried and I will most definitely keep an eye on my starting components and such. Hopefully it's all sorted out!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom