Squirly Electrical Problem

My buddy has a 95 GS-T. He just replaced his battery (yesterday) because the other one wasn't holding a charge. The alternator has been checked and is functioning properly. He was driving home last night and heard a loud poping noise from under the hood (he said it almost sounded like a firecracker going off). At that point his SRS light came on and his sunroof stopped working. Also, his windows are going up really slow. I told him to check the fuses (both under the hood and in the cab)....nothing blown. He got it home and parked it (drove for about 3 miles). He tried to start it this morning and it won't start. It barely turns over....very slow cranking, like a dead battery. Could the battery have been bad and blew (I've never heard of that). Please help, we need to get this running as soon as possible. Thanks for all you help!

did you get the right size battery?

Yep!

Dont always go by what readings you get when you test the alternator. I had to replace mine about 1 month ago. I had it tested and they claimed it was "fine" and the very next day while driving home from picking up my friend the car died and I realized the alternator kicked the bucket.

Also tell your buddy to check the alternator again. Take it to an Autozone or one of those places they checked mine for free. Even though they told me it worked fine and it died the next day. Tell him to check his alternator belt. It might be loose or maybe even worn or broken.

It obviously an electrical problem. Check all the wires. Make sure none are bare and exposed to any metal. Also check all your harnesses.

Hopefully that helps. good luck.

Put a battery charger on the batt, while its on the car. Then wait for about 5 minutes and then start her up with the charger still on. See if that works

Also put the cables on the battery and then plug it in, then when taking it off UNPLUG it first.

popping sounds can't be good... lol

really check the alternator again...

We tried charging the battery for a couple of minutes and the car fired right up...then it died! We just figured that whoever checked the alternator was an idiot. So I yanked the alternater a couple of hours ago and I'm waiting for him to get the part tomorrow. I'll let you know what happens. Thanks for your help!

You guys were right, it was the alternater!! We just decided to replace the damn thing because it was free. He had it replaced once before so it had a lifetime replacement. What a knuckle buster. I fixed it yesterday for him and was too lazy to unbolt the power steering pump and move it out of the way. Oh well....I know for next time. Other than trying to get my big ass hands in a space reserved for a 10 year old, it went pretty smooth. Thanks for your help!!!!

Oh, by the way, I never did find out what that popping noise was :dunno: (I hope it was the alternater) and the SRS light went out after about 5 miles of driving.

The noise was probally from the dead alternator

maybe the some of the coiled wire inside the alt was snapping or something.. or maybe it locked up and was knocking as the clutch tried to engadge it.. or maybe what i just said isnt a possibility who knows.. i remember on my first car.. a lil saturn.. the alt went out on a verrrrry snowy night driving home from work at 2am.. first i noticed the headlights start dimming whenever the sub hit.. then the battery light came on.. by the time i got on my street the headlights, dash lights, and everything were dead.. good thing for snow and moonlight haha..

That's what I was guessing....something busted in the alternator. Once again, thanks to the people that helped out!!!!!