94 Regal "All the sudden" Problem

[TNCpennstate]

First I wanted to say Thank you everyone, These Forums are very helpfil!!

I have a 1994 regal 3.8L 3800 series with 145,000 miles. My grandmother bought it new and drove it for the first 45,000 miles. I've put the last 100,000 miles on it through highschool and college. The car was run suprisingly well with only regular maintenance. I've never EVER had a problem with the car starting or running perfect until "all of the sudden". I let it sit for a week while I went home for Christmas and when I came back....Dead as a doornail. I jumped it, let the battery charged, it sat overnight then BOOM dead again. I installed a new battery and made sure it worked by starting the car with no problem. without driving the car anywhere the battery was drained compeatly dead in less than 3 hours.

Thinking I had a constant drain somewhere I unhooked my after-market speakers in the trunk hoping that would solve the problem. It did, car ran perfect for 3 DAYS. Then I'm driving home everything is running fine and "all of the sudden" my parking break light and the ABS light came on and I could hear a loud clicking noise under the hood. The car had a hardtime making it the last 1/2 mile home. when I hit the gas the engine would make a high pitched whistle/whining noise. I pulled into my driveway thinking I'll restart it to see if it would turn off the warning lights. As soon as I turned it off the battery didn't have enough juice to even unlock the doors.

Any suggestions? I don't want to take it to a dealer at $100/hour.
I'm thinking alternator but not sure.
Any tips on how to get the Belt off to replace the alternator.

[dwalmop]

to me, it sounds like your alternator is taken a permanent rest, as in the bearings went bad in it (the whining noise). That's the first thing I'd check.

[simuel]

Yeah, it definitely sounds like an alternator problem. The only way I know of getting the belt off the alternator without taking it to the dealership is to either buy or check out from the library Chilton's Auto Service manuals(General Motors)90-96 Buick Regal. They have step by step information on how to replace the alternator.

[BatmanLS1]

Hi,

Just found this forum. Glad to finally find one for my Regal.

In regards to the alternator. If you reasonably mechanically inclined, do not take your car to the dealer for this repair. I just replaced the alternator on my '94 Regal...it took me 30 minutes. It's straight forward. Unplug your battery. Remove the belt from the alternator. Unbolt the alternator from the brackets, and unhook the electrical connections (one is under the rubber boot, it's a nut & washer). Reinstall using reverse procedures. Buy a rebuilt one to save some money (I found mine for $50 online). Also, since it appears yours may have seized up, go ahead and relace your belt at the same time for good measure.

[TNCpennstate]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts.

Turns out it was the alternator, However I couldn't get the belt off my self to replace it. Was there a trick to it I was missing or should have I just used a crowbar for leverage ? Anyhow, I was out of time so I had to take it to STS. $360 when all was said and done. And thats not counting the battery and the tow to get it there. But I'm back on the road.
Thanks again for the feedback!!

[BatmanLS1]

Originally Posted by TNCpennstate

Thanks everyone for your thoughts.

Turns out it was the alternator, However I couldn't get the belt off my self to replace it. Was there a trick to it I was missing or should have I just used a crowbar for leverage ? Anyhow, I was out of time so I had to take it to STS. $360 when all was said and done. And thats not counting the battery and the tow to get it there. But I'm back on the road.
Thanks again for the feedback!!

I use a breaker bar and socket on the tensioner pulley to release tension. You have to push up on the bar (like you are loosening the bolt). Belt loosens...pull it off the alternator or something and you're there.