ohGene

Ok so like the title says, im trying to figure out why my car wont start and the alternator is my main suspect. Iv gotten the battery checked and it was good but it still dies. Swapped it out with another battery from my brothers car and it lasted only 2 days. Went to autozone after jumpstarting it to have it checked and the worker says "your alternator might be on its last leg" the readings were a tad bit lower then usual. So i took out the alternator and went back to have it checked to be 100% sure that the alternator was dead and oddly enough, it passed. Had it checked again at another autozone and same thing still. I checked the wiring and everything seems to be in tact as well as the fuse for it. After jumpstarting it when the alternator was on, it had the same symptoms of a bad alternator i.e. cluster goes out when headlights are on, EPS light flickers and powersteering is practically gone. Anyone have any ideas of whats going on with my car?

Robert O

That's sorta of a strange symptom . I agree.

If you can begin with a known good battery again and if you have a volt meter,then take a reading between + & - and note the reading.Then start the engine and recheck the voltage. Should be around 13.5 or so if the alternator is putting out. Otherwise you have a power leak on something when the car is not running. What that could be I could only guess.

slalom44

With the lights off and the engine running, you should have just above 14 volts. If you pick up a multitester, you can hook it up to your cigarette lighter to check it. Turning the light on will cause it to dip down to a little less than 14 volts, IIRC. If you're not getting this, you may have a burned out diode.

A bad starter might cause these symptoms. I had a problem decades ago where I went through several batteries in a Dodge before finding out the starter was the problem. Fortunately it was under warranty.

ohGene

i doubt its the battery, it works fine on the other cars when i switched them. ill have to check for power leaks

Robert O

Check the alternator output to the battery terminals first with the engine running and insure it is delivering 13.5-14.0 volts at idle.

ohGene

i actually did already. the guy that did it told me that my alternator is on its last leg. maybe theres something wrong with the wiring?

Robert O

Alternators wear out. Brushes and commutators don't last forever.No big woop.Just locate a new or have yours rebuilt at a reputable shop.How many miles are on the vehicle?

ohGene

well thats what im confused about. the alternator was tested by itself and passed so i dont see the point of rebuilding it

Billman250

Never mind this "last leg" crap.

Using a meter, measure the battery voltage with the engine running. Post it here. It's either got enough to power the car or it doesn"t

Billman250

Any work done to the car? engine work? clutch work?