Something good.... and something bad

[dlock13]

I was in the market for new tires as my all-seasons were barely legal (balding and what not), and finally, I pulled the trigger and was able to get them installed this past Friday.

Come Saturday, my car is making a new noise, a whirring noise if you will. It didn't affect anything, and I didn't notice anything. I was planning on calling my mechanic today about it anyway... Sunday comes, and it is still having the issue. Nothing major. Monday morning... I drive to the gym not noticing anything, and then all of a sudden it happens. I turn into a parking spot and all of a sudden my battery light kicks on and I lose power steering. I go to drive home, and my cabin lights and headlights are super dim. My dash lights are flicking on and off every now and then likewise with the battery light. I go to pull into my driveway and my power steering goes out again.

Looks like I'll be needing a new alternator more or less.

Sink $500 for tires and then $500 more for a new alternator.

Just wanted to tell you all a sad tale and hope the rest of you are having a good experience.

 

[Ns1]

just replaced mine over the weekend, $150 in parts and $110 in labor. Tried doing it myself but I couldn't get that fucking belt off the alternator.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I was in the market for new tires as my all-seasons were barely legal...

18 year old tires? Man; that's living dangerously.

$500 for a new alternator isn't bad, if it's dealer prices. Bummer, though.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I'm assuming your car is used and paid for. So not all bad. If still making payments then really bad.

 

[lxskllr]

I'm always afraid of putting real money into a car. Seems like every time you make a big purchase the car suddenly thinks it's entitled, and demands more.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I'm always afraid of putting real money into a car. Seems like every time you make a big purchase the car suddenly thinks it's entitled, and demands more.

I find it behaves itself better if you threaten to do the work yourself.

Cars don't like that.

 

[Meghan54]

I find it behaves itself better if you threaten to do the work yourself.

Cars don't like that.

Actually, my vehicles seem to like my hands on them. After all, why would my Silverado, which had a brand new AC Delco water pump put on it 4 1/2 months ago by me, would begin to leak from its inlet pipe--a pipe that's press fit into the pump's body--and need to be replaced again?

 

[JulesMaximus]

I'm assuming your car is used and paid for. So not all bad. If still making payments then really bad.

If living paycheck to paycheck then really bad.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Actually, my vehicles seem to like my hands on them. After all, why would my Silverado, which had a brand new AC Delco water pump put on it 4 1/2 months ago by me, would begin to leak from its inlet pipe--a pipe that's press fit into the pump's body--and need to be replaced again?

I wouldn't buy an aftermarket water pump personally. I replaced one on a Mustang GT i used to own with aftermarket (NAPA) and it began leaking again less than a year later. I put a Ford Motorsport brand pump on and never had a problem with it again.

 

[JulesMaximus]

18 year old tires? Man; that's living dangerously.

On a car? What's the danger? That he gets a flat tire?

Now on a bike, that's dangerous.

 

[LTC8K6]

On a car? What's the danger? That he gets a flat tire?

Now on a bike, that's dangerous.

The danger is a front blowout while texting at 75mph...

Or simply while not having a firm grip on the steering wheel, which is very common.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Pics of bald barely legal tires?

 

[Meghan54]

I wouldn't buy an aftermarket water pump personally. I replaced one on a Mustang GT i used to own with aftermarket (NAPA) and it began leaking again less than a year later. I put a Ford Motorsport brand pump on and never had a problem with it again.

Pssst...A/C Delco is GM's goddam OEM manufacturer for a LOT of their parts. Said water pump was GM's OEM pump.