Alternator problems?

Just drove 700 miles (11 hours ) the last 100 in the dark with lights on and wipers going. All of the sudden the wipers would only work in one speed -- which was slow. Next the battery light flashed on and of f every five minutes, then ABS and airbag lights came on. Turned off an exit and headlights began to dim, battery light stayed on and car died. Is it pretty safe to say a bad alternator? Until this happened no difficulty starting or any sign of bad alternator or battery. Can an alternator go that quickly?

Well it sure sounds like it went bad, but you can't say it was quick. You may have developed a problem just before your trip, say a bad cell in the battery. Driving 11 hours with large load on the alternator would fry it for sure.
That's just an example. There is no way to tell what went wrong until you pull the alternator and have it tested. In my experience, batteries and alternators go bad in pairs if both are old. If the alternator was good, then a bad battery left go too long kills the alternator and vise-versa.
Be sure to test both.

Turns out battery was OK and alternator was bad. Replaced alternator and is running fine now.

venturenot, how hard was it to replace the alternator? I just recently purchased my 98 venture and last night I had the same problem headlights dim, batt light on and loss of power.

Alt can be a pain. I have done one with the intake on and one with off. I dont really recall how I did the one with the intake on, but I know with it off it was pretty tight.

Don't know, my mechanic in PA did the work. It cost me $320.00 which included Alt, New belt and labor.

Replaced mine on saturday wasn't to bad just had to drop the subframe to get the motor low enough to get it out.

Replaced mine on saturday wasn't to bad just had to drop the subframe to get the motor low enough to get it out.


There ya go, knew there was an easier way to do it!!!!!

Replaced mine on saturday wasn't to bad just had to drop the subframe to get the motor low enough to get it out.

So, you disconnected the steering linkage--which involves removing the air filter, the intake pleneum and the plastic boot that protects the linkage. Then you disconnected the passenger side ABS connector behind the splash shield, then you jacked up the van, used another jack(s) on the subframe and removed at least two of the four bolts that hold the subframe to the chassis??? All this just to remove the alternator:runaround:

And if you forgot to disconnect the steering linkage, I wouldn't want to pass you on the road--the linkage could snap at any time after that stress.

You have got to be kidding!
Folks, the alternator comes right out if you just remove the top motor mounts and loosen the bottom one at the oil pan. Roll the engine forward with a ratchet strap and there is enough room in back to fit a cooler past the engine. Really, it takes like 15 minutes to get the alternator out.

So, you disconnected the steering linkage--which involves removing the air filter, the intake pleneum and the plastic boot that protects the linkage. Then you disconnected the passenger side ABS connector behind the splash shield, then you jacked up the van, used another jack(s) on the subframe and removed at least two of the four bolts that hold the subframe to the chassis??? All this just to remove the alternator:runaround:

And if you forgot to disconnect the steering linkage, I wouldn't want to pass you on the road--the linkage could snap at any time after that stress.

You have got to be kidding!
Folks, the alternator comes right out if you just remove the top motor mounts and loosen the bottom one at the oil pan. Roll the engine forward with a ratchet strap and there is enough room in back to fit a cooler past the engine. Really, it takes like 15 minutes to get the alternator out.
Well, that's a nice tidbit to know, given the squeals and bearing noises coming from the engine bay, and general lack of maintenance. Figure the alternator is going to be replaced in the mid-future. So... thanks!

Its seems odd for me to be posting NOT to remove the subframe, I like to do that for almost any engine work that takes more than a little effort--see my post (with many pix) on how to do just that here: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=1049830

But the truth is, that's NOT a trivial job while changing the alternator is trivial.