electrical problems

zeno · Jul 28th, 2003, 09:35 PM

I went out to start my car today, turn the key....nothing. Everything is dead even though I couldn't find any lights I left on. I finally jump the car in the evening after work. It takes forever to build up some juice to jump the car. I finally get it running and decide to take it around the town to charge the battery. It runs alright for the first mile or two but then problems start happening. Usually when I'm in first all of a sudden the car feels like it suddenly dies for a second, the engine lurches and the lights flash. This goes on for awhile whenever I am at red light. I drive home, park the car and as I am rolling up the windows the car dies.

My question, is the battery or alternator toast?

psuLemon · Jul 28th, 2003, 09:44 PM

sounds like the alternator

Irons · Jul 29th, 2003, 07:22 AM

I agree alternator. Check all the connections on both ends of the wires. Check your belts. My car did the same thing once. Turned out one of the wires was wearing/worn through just behind the connector. After that get the alt checked somewhere. It's a good idea to call ahead to make sure they can test your alt. Some stores in the same chain sometimes can't test certain alternators.

zeno · Jul 29th, 2003, 01:48 PM

I was also thinking the alternator. Thanks for the help.