Question for anyone. Dead Alternator? '98 Bonneville

[Smoof]

my girlfriends Bonne is having some issues
I'm guessing it's the alternator. To describe the problem, a few months ago, it started dying. Let it sit for a day and it wouldn't start and needed to be jumped. Eventually it started getting really bad, so I decided to replace the battery, figuring if this new one died it would be the alternator. Put the new battery in, it worked great, for maybe, two months or so now. Now it's not starting anymore. She drove the car to my house tonight and when we went to go an hour or so later, it wouldn't start and the lights inside were dim.

Anyway, I'm figuring it's just the alternator on this thing, because if it was a drain somewhere, the battery would have taken a lot longer to die, rather than just slowly fizzling out after a few months. So I just came around to get a second opinion on what it is.

[Still Crusin]

Have you had any indicator lights for the alternator come on at all? Also, I'd recommend taking a volt meter and check the voltage on the battery while the car is running(make sure all accessories are off). You should have 14 to 15 volts, if not then alternator isn't charging properly. Could be other things too, sounds like the starter might be an issue too. A new battery with a alternator that may only be working part of the time could give you those symptoms you describe.

[Smoof]

I don't think it's a starter issue. I've had to deal with A LOT (I mean a WHOLE ~~~~LOAD) of starter issues in my life and the way this car is acting isn't one.

The car will ALWAYS (I've had to have jumped it about 15+ times in the past year or so) start right-up when it's being jumped, no problem at all. That's why I suspect the alternator, espessially if the battery is less than two months old.

The only issue is, I have no problem changing out the alternator. I'm pretty damned convinced that's it, but I'm looking for more opinions, because my girlfriend doesn't want to spend $120 on something that might not be the problem. But so far, I've got at least two answers (one is yours) that is semi-sure it might be an alt.

I would have suspected differently, but back a few months ago when the other bat kept dying, I told myself and her, that if this new battery dies, it was most likely the alternator. It seems as though it's definately not a drain, since the battery slowly gives out, like a flashlight battery would. Gradually dimming over time, like it's not being recharged as it should. I would assume if it was a drain, no matter how large of one, it should sap the battery within a matter of days.

I don't have a volt meter, so that's a problem.

[cudaz101]

No Multi-Meter??? They can be had alot cheaper than a new Battery.

Anyways, remove the Alt., take it into AutoZone or anywhere else where they can test it for you.


Brad

[RBH Racing]

kudos to cudaz, have it tested man. It's free.....

[99GSXR750]

Check the positive battery cable for corrosion. My fiance's 99 Grand Am and my 97 Chevy van are nototrious for that. You have to remove the rubber insulation from the actual terminal, usually it will be filled with soot.
Mike

[Smoof]

Thanks for the responses, I'm going to check out the terminals first, cause that rubber that surrounds the positive might not be getting a full connection, as suggested. I hate that stuff, I don't get why they don't just use the normal top posts.

[Smoof]

By the way, can I just use a knife to peel away the rubber on the connecter? Or is that unsafe?

Meaning, after it's been disconnected, of course.

[Smoof]

Thanks for the opinions. I decided to do what some suggested and first check the terminals and connecters for corrosion. None there, but I put the terminals back on and tightend em real well and the car started right up.

Took it to NAPA and did a charging system test and all was good. Alt is fine, so is the battery. Looks like it was my fault to begin with for not tightning the things tight enough to begin with. oops.

[David Neibert]

Thanks for the opinions. I decided to do what some suggested and first check the terminals and connecters for corrosion. None there, but I put the terminals back on and tightend em real well and the car started right up.

Took it to NAPA and did a charging system test and all was good. Alt is fine, so is the battery. Looks like it was my fault to begin with for not tightning the things tight enough to begin with. oops.

Don't tell your GF the connections weren't tight......just let her think you fixed it with your great mechanical skillz.

David

[Smoof]

Don't tell your GF the connections weren't tight......just let her think you fixed it with your great mechanical skillz.

David

I thought about saying: "Hey, you owe me $120 for an alternator." But that would just be plainassed mean :p

Or I could tell her I pulled the alternator apart and rewired it and now it's fixed and even better than before.