Car broke down tonight in middle of intersection...

cky86 · #1 07-18-2004, 03:37 AM

Alright lol about an hour ago (130 am) me and my brother were gonna run to the store cuz i wanted a new magazine, and we are at my moms new apartment and i dont know this city. So we leave and then we are driving and i notice my cd player, radar detector, and basically all electronics are going off and on, my alarm even started for a second! (btw i have a 92 laser). I was thinking shit my car is about to die, so then i get to a left turn at a stop light, in the middle of an intersection, and the car dies and wont start.

I am assuming it was the alternator cuz it wont even start at all, i called my mom and she came, and we got a cop to come to, cuz i am the idiot and took my jumper cables out of my car, and my mom doesnt have any. Finally we pushed it far far into a parking lot, either way, do u guys think it is my alternator? If so i really want to save myself the money and replace it myself.

george536 · #2 07-18-2004, 03:56 AM

it probably is since it died on you when you were drivin it. If it was a good workin altenator it will stay on not juss die.

cky86 · #3 07-18-2004, 04:05 AM

I've never had to replace an alternator before, how much do u guys think it will cost for one if i do the work myself.

george536 · #4 07-18-2004, 04:08 AM

I wouldnt be able to tell you. My cousin does it all the time with his 87 accord it always break down for some reason. Hes not a man with alot of money so im guessin it will not cost u alot.

guitarXgeek · #5 07-18-2004, 11:58 AM

A remanufactured alternator for my 95 gsx was like $130 with a $75 core charge. It's pretty easy to install, actually. I did mine in about an hour or so. OH YEA, make sure you check your fuses first! I replaced the alternator only to find out the alternator fuse was blown! I went to autozone and picked up a $2 fuse and that fixed the problem.

GTPSPEED · #6 07-18-2004, 12:43 PM

its easy to replace its like three bolts and the belt,its simple

cky86 · #7 07-18-2004, 03:50 PM

Alright well a little while ago i jumpstarted my car with my girlfriends car, and i drove it home, i was worried cuz it was like a 25 minute drive but it made it, that makes me wonder, is it the alternator? Could it just be the battery? Any help would be appreciated cause i wanna get this fixed pretty soon.

guitarXgeek · #8 07-18-2004, 03:53 PM

Like I said, make sure to check your fuses first, just in case! That way you may not have to spend the money on a new alternator, and instead just buy a new fuse. If your fuses look fine, then I would suggest taking the alternator to autozone and have them do a free testing to see if it's ok.

cky86 · #9 07-18-2004, 04:07 PM

Yea but if i take my car to autozone, my check engine light has to be on for them to hook up their computer, so i dont think they will do the testing.

guitarXgeek · #10 07-18-2004, 04:10 PM

Your check engine light does not have to be on for them to check your alternator, trust me. When that happened to me I went up there and they checked mine no problem, and my engine light was not on

cky86 · #11 07-18-2004, 04:30 PM

Alright so do they have a thing that they hook up to it? In a little while im gonna head over there and see what happens. Do you think there is any chance that it is just the battery? Thanks for your help

guitarXgeek · #12 07-18-2004, 04:38 PM

Well, if it gets worse as the rpms go up, then it's almost definitely your alternator. I doubt it's the battery, since the car did die. Sounds to me like the battery was trying to make power, and the alternator was sucking it dry. However, I don't know why exactly it does that, but it happened to me too!

cky86 · #13 07-18-2004, 04:46 PM

Yea that's what i figured, cuz when i was drivin, my cd player, my radar detector, and all electronics were going off then coming back on then off again, and lights were dimming. Immediately i figured it was my alternator cuz i could tell the battery was getting no power. But then I jump started it today and made a 20 minute drive home, is that usual for the battery to last that long without the alternator. Also on the drive home i made sure the AC, cd player, etc were all turned off.

nhockett · #14 07-18-2004, 05:57 PM

I had the same trouble with my '92. Go to auto zone and get a battery and alternator tester (probably less than $10). Put wire on the positive battery terminal and the other on the negative. On mine, lights light up and tell you what shape the battery is in and also the alternator. It is cheap and easy and you will know if it is one or the other or neither, very quickly. Good luck

Nate

cky86 · #15 07-18-2004, 06:27 PM

Yea well just got it tested at auto zone, the alternator is bad. I have the last alternator they had for my car on reserve now til i get the money tomorrow. The problem now is i get to replace it. I've never replaced an alternator so if anyone has any tips for a 92, then let me know lol. Thanks for the help everyone

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