So yesterday while sitting in gridlocked traffic (210 fwy closed due to tanker spill) my stereo started power cycling by itself. I checked my rpm and it was stable. I've been in cars where the alternator went out before so I can usually tell the symptoms. However the car felt fine and besides the stereo all other accessories were working.
So I finally get onto the freeway but it's jammed up as well. Not more than 5 miles later my battery warning light comes on and I start noticing the dash lights flickering slightly. If I get on the accelerator the light and flickering goes away but once I go back to idle they both come back. Not wanting to be stuck in the middle of the freeway I exited off and stopped at a gas station. I checked my battery connection and they seem fine. I left the engine running the whole time but the warning light never came back on.
After waiting about 30 minutes I continued on but taking the side streets instead. Just to put some stress on the charging system I turned my stereo up and played bass heavy music yet the light never came back. So I get home and with a MM I measure the voltage. It read ~12 volts with the engine off and ~12.8 with it on. Seems normal so I try the "remove ground connection with the engine running" method. It ran fine for about 10 seconds and then the voltage started fluacuating down to 5v back to normal. After 2 hiccups the engine stalled. I tried it a second time and after 5 seconds the engine stalled again.
Everything seems to point to a bad alternator. The battery was replaced not more than a year ago and all connects are tight and clean. What do you guys think?
*EDIT: Ordered a remanufactured alternator and it came in yesterday. Going to replace it this weekend. Doesn't look to difficult according to the instructions I got but it will have to be removed from beneath.
So I finally get onto the freeway but it's jammed up as well. Not more than 5 miles later my battery warning light comes on and I start noticing the dash lights flickering slightly. If I get on the accelerator the light and flickering goes away but once I go back to idle they both come back. Not wanting to be stuck in the middle of the freeway I exited off and stopped at a gas station. I checked my battery connection and they seem fine. I left the engine running the whole time but the warning light never came back on.
After waiting about 30 minutes I continued on but taking the side streets instead. Just to put some stress on the charging system I turned my stereo up and played bass heavy music yet the light never came back. So I get home and with a MM I measure the voltage. It read ~12 volts with the engine off and ~12.8 with it on. Seems normal so I try the "remove ground connection with the engine running" method. It ran fine for about 10 seconds and then the voltage started fluacuating down to 5v back to normal. After 2 hiccups the engine stalled. I tried it a second time and after 5 seconds the engine stalled again.
Everything seems to point to a bad alternator. The battery was replaced not more than a year ago and all connects are tight and clean. What do you guys think?
*EDIT: Ordered a remanufactured alternator and it came in yesterday. Going to replace it this weekend. Doesn't look to difficult according to the instructions I got but it will have to be removed from beneath.
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