**Electrical problem...never seen this before...

[ChenZ]

I was driving as usual today, when the battery light came on. I drove it home, and it died on the driveway. It wouldnt start again. I gave it about 10 minutes, and it started back up fine. Then the interior lights began to fade, and the headlights faded, and the car began to sputter and die. I put a battery charger on the car for 20 or so minutes, it started up fine, then did the same stuff again (fading lights, etc). No idea what this could be, any help would be greatly appreciated...


Car is a 98 Grand Prix SE 3.8L...102,000 miles

[phaelax]

i'd guess the alternator went out.

[GTP Dad]

Definately a bad alternator. What caused it to shut off is the fact that the battery was drained. After a while the battery will recharge itself enough to restart the car but as you witnessed there was not enough voltage to keep the car running. Change the alternator, recharge the battery and everything should be fine.

[richtazz]

Make sure you charge the battery BEFORE installing the new alternator, or you could kill the new alternator. Alternators are designed to maintain the battery's charge, not bring it back from the dead. IF you put a new alternator on a dead battery, you can cook the rectifier and fry it.

[ChenZ]

Thanks...I figured as much...

Took the alternator off today, charged the battery as well, it's holding it's charge fine...


Should have a new alternator on by tomorrow...


Thanks again