Alternator or What??
kbhoney31
06-22-2008, 02:38 PM
I had a new battery put on about a month or 2 ago because one day I killed it and it wouldn't start without being jumped. I had the alternator checked at one of the automotive places and they said the alternator was messing up. I took it to the Ford place and paid for a diagnostics test. It showed my alternator was fine. My car ran fine after the battery was installed, until yesterday. We had went on vacation, an 8 hour drive) it made it fine. I drove it probably close to 300 miles while on vaction and it ran fine. Yesterday we came home from vacation. It was running fine. It was raining and I had the wipers going, radio on, lights on, air on. About 5 miles from my house the abs light came on (I had the brakes and roters replaced a week ago) the the air bag light came on and I felt the car losing power. It then started sputtering. I made it to the side of the road. I waited about 5 - 10 minutes and it started again. I drove for a few more minutes and then it done it again. I was 2 blocks from home. I waited again and it started and I made in home.
We drove at night while on vacation, ran the air and all and no problems until yesterday. My husband in in the Military and out of the area right now. He will be back in a couple of weeks, but he thinks it is the alternator. I was just wondering if anyone had any other ideas or do you think it is the alternator?
Thanks
We drove at night while on vacation, ran the air and all and no problems until yesterday. My husband in in the Military and out of the area right now. He will be back in a couple of weeks, but he thinks it is the alternator. I was just wondering if anyone had any other ideas or do you think it is the alternator?
Thanks
highlandlake
06-22-2008, 05:42 PM
Sure sounds like an intermittent alternator failure, or perhaps a wiring fault coming from the alternator.
The array of dash lights that came on, and the way it lost power and died sure points in that direction.
Could it be something as simple as a loose ground or power wire - has anyone been working under the hood and inadvertently knocked something loose?
If not, I's suggest replacing the alternator.
Tom
The array of dash lights that came on, and the way it lost power and died sure points in that direction.
Could it be something as simple as a loose ground or power wire - has anyone been working under the hood and inadvertently knocked something loose?
If not, I's suggest replacing the alternator.
Tom
AlohaBra
06-23-2008, 09:23 AM
IMHO....I don't think it is the alternator. Have it tested again....it is easy to test and the test is reliable. Don't start throwing expensive parts at it.
Most likely, it is a bad ground or a bad connection at the battery, etc..
Have a good "sparky" check it out.
Most likely, it is a bad ground or a bad connection at the battery, etc..
Have a good "sparky" check it out.
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