Car problem...

[glenn beck]

This is probably a stupid ? But my battery light just came on while the car was running
and while I drove home the dashboard lights started to dim, then the radio went out. Luckily I made it home. Alright..... alternator or battery????

 

[Banana]

Alt

 

[RU482]

my guess, alternator
get a charger on that battery STAT

btw...how old is the battery
model and make, please

 

[RU482]

tune in...to the Glenn Beck Program....

(I miss having a talk radio station)

 

[QuitBanningMe]

Alternator, bad battery (refusing charge), or loose connections

 

[glenn beck]

Originally posted by: redly1
my guess, alternator
get a charger on that battery STAT

btw...how old is the battery
model and make, please

Battery is about 3 years old Nissan Sentra 98

 

[AmdEmAll]

Get the battery checked at murrays or goodyear or some place. They can do a load test to make sure the battery is ok.

Also make sure the connections to the battery are tight.

 

[RU482]

Originally posted by: AmdEmAll
Get the battery checked at murrays or goodyear or some place. They can do a load test to make sure the battery is ok.

Also make sure the connections to the battery are tight.

the car isn't going to start in the morning, I bet

 

[AmdEmAll]

Originally posted by: redly1

Originally posted by: AmdEmAll
Get the battery checked at murrays or goodyear or some place. They can do a load test to make sure the battery is ok.

Also make sure the connections to the battery are tight.

the car isn't going to start in the morning, I bet

?

 

[glenn beck]

Originally posted by: redly1

Originally posted by: AmdEmAll
Get the battery checked at murrays or goodyear or some place. They can do a load test to make sure the battery is ok.

Also make sure the connections to the battery are tight.

the car isn't going to start in the morning, I bet

probably not, that is why I would hope it would just be the battery, so I could call up my dad in the morning and have him bring me one(I don't know how to change the altenator that well)

 

[yokomo]

if you get the car running ? because you put a charger on it tonight... pull off the positve wire while it is running if the car die then yep it is the alt.. if it still runs then you need a new battery.

 

[RU482]

Originally posted by: yokomo
if you get the car running ? because you put a charger on it tonight... pull off the positve wire while it is running if the car die then yep it is the alt.. if it still runs then you need a new battery.

REALLY...that's kinda dangerous considering the warn you to not smoke and avoid sparks around a battery.

 

[QuitBanningMe]

Originally posted by: yokomo
if you get the car running ? because you put a charger on it tonight... pull off the positve wire while it is running if the car die then yep it is the alt.. if it still runs then you need a new battery.

Don't disconnect the battery with the car running!

Edited for clarity.

 

[RU482]

Originally posted by: AmdEmAll

Originally posted by: redly1

Originally posted by: AmdEmAll
Get the battery checked at murrays or goodyear or some place. They can do a load test to make sure the battery is ok.

Also make sure the connections to the battery are tight.

the car isn't going to start in the morning, I bet

?

assuming it IS the alternator, and he drove it to the point where the lights went dim and the radio cut out, the battery is at a pretty low state of charge. even if the car starts in the morning, it won't run for long because of the heavy load of the start and the continual load of the car running.

is the alternator fairly accessible?? any way you can take a picture?
if you are remotely mechanically inclined, we can probably walk you through this

 

[glenn beck]

Originally posted by: redly1

Originally posted by: AmdEmAll

Originally posted by: redly1

Originally posted by: AmdEmAll
Get the battery checked at murrays or goodyear or some place. They can do a load test to make sure the battery is ok.

Also make sure the connections to the battery are tight.

the car isn't going to start in the morning, I bet

?

assuming it IS the alternator, and he drove it to the point where the lights went dim and the radio cut out, the battery is at a pretty low state of charge. even if the car starts in the morning, it won't run for long because of the heavy load of the start and the continual load of the car running.

is the alternator fairly accessible?? any way you can take a picture?
if you are remotely mechanically inclined, we can probably walk you through this

yeah it's not that accessible, my friend(car mechanic) who I usually take it too, said it was an absolute pain to replace.

 

[QuitBanningMe]

Originally posted by: glenn beck

Originally posted by: redly1

Originally posted by: AmdEmAll

Originally posted by: redly1

Originally posted by: AmdEmAll
Get the battery checked at murrays or goodyear or some place. They can do a load test to make sure the battery is ok.

Also make sure the connections to the battery are tight.

the car isn't going to start in the morning, I bet

?

assuming it IS the alternator, and he drove it to the point where the lights went dim and the radio cut out, the battery is at a pretty low state of charge. even if the car starts in the morning, it won't run for long because of the heavy load of the start and the continual load of the car running.

is the alternator fairly accessible?? any way you can take a picture?
if you are remotely mechanically inclined, we can probably walk you through this

yeah it's not that accessible, my friend(car mechanic) who I usually take it too, said it was an absolute pain to replace.

98 sentra is pretty easy

 

[glenn beck]

just tried to start the car, fairly ruff start and the radio was blinking on and off...so def alternator?

 

[RU482]

glenn...yeah, I just did an image search...I'm used to larger engine bays. that looks like it must be underneath.
I hope it works out well.
you might do a search at napaonline of autozone.com to get an idea what your alternator (part) should cost.
doesn;t look cheap

 

[QuitBanningMe]

Originally posted by: glenn beck
just tried to start the car, fairly ruff start and the radio was blinking on and off...so def altenator?

Most likely but not definately. Battery may not be accepting the charge. Cables could be loose. Run it by autozone or somewhere and have it tested.

Alternator on a sentra is extremely easy to replace.

 

[glenn beck]

thanx it's about $120

 

[glenn beck]

Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe

Originally posted by: glenn beck
just tried to start the car, fairly ruff start and the radio was blinking on and off...so def altenator?

Most likely but not definately. Battery may not be accepting the charge. Cables could be loose. Run it by autozone or somewhere and have it tested.

Alternator on a sentra is extremely easy to replace.

yeah if it will make it there tomorrow

 

[hookinitup]

glad i came across this thread. i was also lookin for some replacement parts for a navigator (inside door handle, stock sub). napaonline and autozone.com dont carry the items. do u know any site which would sell such items either new or used? all help is appreciated...been lookin for a while.

 

[QuitBanningMe]

Originally posted by: hookinitup
glad i came across this thread. i was also lookin for some replacement parts for a navigator (inside door handle, stock sub). napaonline and autozone.com dont carry the items. do u know any site which would sell such items either new or used? all help is appreciated...been lookin for a while.

junkyard
try
http://www.car-part.com

 

[TechnoKid]

Originally posted by: yokomo
if you get the car running ? because you put a charger on it tonight... pull off the positve wire while it is running if the car die then yep it is the alt.. if it still runs then you need a new battery.

It is important to keep the battery connected at all times while the engine is running; it acts as a voltage regulator somewhat, what you have just reccomended is hill billy bob's method, ie, a backyard hack. Go take an automotive circuits/electrical systems class at your local community college and find me ONE instructor who would reccomend this 'procedure' you describe, especially on a more modern car where you can't even open the doors if the computers fry.

You do have one thing right, definately want to put it on a charger; don't let the alternator 'charge' it back up. We had a 300ZX donated by Nissan Motor that kept on having to be charged or jumped to be started. Turns out one of the battery cable clamps was loose on the post; tightened her down and good to go. Seems as if the clamping action from the booster would hold the clamp on tight enough...

 

[AmdEmAll]

Originally posted by: hookinitup
glad i came across this thread. i was also lookin for some replacement parts for a navigator (inside door handle, stock sub). napaonline and autozone.com dont carry the items. do u know any site which would sell such items either new or used? all help is appreciated...been lookin for a while.

Try some specific forums for the navigator. I'm sure there are some.