Alternator going bad?

[diezelman]

In my 97 Grand Prix SE with 112,000 miles on it, and I noticed first the dash lights were dim, next thing I know the batery light flicks on, I loose acceleration power, I also lost my power steering, the car went for a few yards, then died. I thought well, this is what kind of, sorta happened when my idler pully crapped the bed, maybe the belt slipped? Anywho, i cursed at it a little bit, didnt find anything of note under the hood, so jumped back in, and the thing fired right up and got me back to my house and my truck.
Tried it again this morning and it fired right up, drove it around the block a couple times, not one problem. I'm a bit stumped on this, my guess is the alternator is starting to go? Battery cables seemed to be on tight (it was very dark, and havnt checked with wrench yet), and I know the battery is ok because the car starts up fine.
Any ideas?

Thanks again guys and gals for any feedback.
JP

[GTP Dad]

It is entirely possible that the alternator is starting to go bad but based on your description I have to believe it is something else. For the battery light to come on and the car die almost immediately indicates that your problem may be related to something other than the alternator. I would have it checked. Usually when the alternator goes bad the battery will continue to power the car until it is completely drained before the car will die. If this were the case then the car would not have restarted. I would check all the grounds and clean the battery terminals just to be safe.

I would look more at the possibility of a failing crank position sensor or other ignition component rather than the alternator. The other culprit may be the security system. Did the light come on when this happened?

[rbsteve]

Is your car equipped with ABS and/or Traction control ?

When my alternator died last year, the car runs off the battery like GTP Dad said, but my ABS light and Traction OFF lights both turned on also, indicating a power loss to these systems. If they didnt turn on, then the power is still going and it must be something else.

[diezelman]

After doing some more reading through the forum on the CPS, I am convinced that this is my problem. Larry had posted a link with good pictures, and "Barny" style instructions, so now I have something to do this weekend! Called on a new sensor, its only about $25.00, new alternator is going to be $95.00. Probally replace both just for good measure.

Again guys thanks for the help, your helping a broke college kid save some major bucks!

JP

[diezelman]

Finally got around to the CPS, took me a little over an hour, went smoothly. Havn't had any problems yet (knock on wood)

Thanks again for the help

JP