Vehicle Issue

Lexib_

Lexib_

Blah.. Blah...Blah
Hi AllI hava 1999 chevy cavalier.# My problem is the battery light keeps coming on.# However the lights work fine, the car drives normal.# There are no odd sounds.# The cables and posts to the battery are clean.# I'm not sure what the problem is. The car starts up fine no hestiation.# Any thougts what the problem is ?

thanks
 
R

RadioPatrol

Guest
Lexib_ said:
Hi All I have a 1999 Chevy cavalier.

# My problem is the battery light keeps coming on.
# However the lights work fine, the car drives normal.
# There are no odd sounds.
# The cables and posts to the battery are clean.
# I'm not sure what the problem is. The car starts up fine no hesitation.
# Any thoughts what the problem is ?

thanks
Click to expand...

Battery light can mean your Alternator is not charging the battery and you are running off of the battery ....... how long has it been on ?

:doh:
 
VduvUMarie

VduvUMarie

New Member
Alternator! When other lights start coming on for no reason and your radio dies, pull over asap- it's only a matter of seconds till the car dies. If this happens and your not too far from home take the battery out and get it charged for free at Advanced Auto or Auto Zone, that way you can at least get the car home and not pay for towing. Also, if you do need a replacement alternator ask Advanced Auto if they have a salvaged one available. A few weeks ago my alternator went on my Jetta and a friend at Advanced Auto was able to get me an alternator (in perfectly fine condition) from a salvaged vehicle, it came with a warranty too. My price was only $50 because of my friend's discount, but it would have been only $80, and that sure beats the almost $200 or more I would have spent on a new one. You have to know about this program and ask them because they won't volunteer to pass up a big sale on a new part.
 
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H

Heernwp

New Member
Take it to Auto Zone and let them check it out for you. GM alternators have three components in it that can fail. The brushes can wear and cause the alternator to not supply full power, ther regulator can fail causing the same effect, or the triode can fail and cause an over charge. Thay can tell you what it's doing. If you tap the alternator with a hammer sometimes it will loosen binding brushes and give you a few more miles. I hope this helps.
 
aps45819

aps45819

24/7 Single Dad
beerlover said:
Could also be just a loose/slipping/missing alternator belt. Check the tension.
Click to expand...
They usually squeal when loose, especially upon startup.
Measure voltage across the terminals while the car is running. If it's about 13 vdc, alternator is fine. If not, take it out and AutoZone will test it for you.
 
blazinlow89

blazinlow89

Big Poppa
Heernwp said:
Take it to Auto Zone and let them check it out for you. GM alternators have three components in it that can fail. The brushes can wear and cause the alternator to not supply full power, ther regulator can fail causing the same effect, or the triode can fail and cause an over charge. Thay can tell you what it's doing. If you tap the alternator with a hammer sometimes it will loosen binding brushes and give you a few more miles. I hope this helps.
Click to expand...

All alternators can like that, not just GM's.

And yes the battery light is the alternator. My girlfriends car had it on for some time before it finally died, the mechanic it went to said it was a new one BS, and luckily i was following her when the thing finally went.

Also had it happen to a buick regal with no warning, the car just died. And the rear bearing was gone, it was just a shell with a couple of balls and no seals.
 
Lexib_

Lexib_

Blah.. Blah...Blah
blazinlow89 said:
All alternators can like that, not just GM's.

And yes the battery light is the alternator. My girlfriends car had it on for some time before it finally died, the mechanic it went to said it was a new one BS, and luckily i was following her when the thing finally went.

Also had it happen to a buick regal with no warning, the car just died. And the rear bearing was gone, it was just a shell with a couple of balls and no seals.
Click to expand...


It turned out that it was the alternator. It's been changed and fixed. Plus I needed a new water pump. Pretty much a new car now..... 900 @#$!$^ dollars later.
 
blazinlow89

blazinlow89

Big Poppa
Should have said something i can replace an alternator in about 20-30 min depending on the car, and they usually arent more than 100, 150 tops for a new one.

AS for the water pump since its an internal one they should have replaced the timing belt at the same time. But most mechanics want you to come back and wont tell you its easy to change when they have the timing section torn apart.
 
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