Cascade Crew

turbo_jimi · Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2004 6:38 pm Post subject: Bad Altenator???

Started up the 85 today and it seemed OK, but when I turned the radio on, it decided not to work. I turned the car off and tried to turn it back on, and nothing, nada, zilch! Leads me to believe the altenator was bad and I was running off of the battery. Is this a correct asspumption? I pulled the battery and altenator and will have them tested tomorrow. I bought the battery a week ago so I'm OK there. Also, is the regulator built into the altenator? If so, cool! If not, where is it located so I can change that out too? Thanks in advance for you guy's help in this.

James

alloy · Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2004 6:59 pm Post subject:

Yes, alternator has the regulator built into it. Take both the battery and alternator to an auto zone and have them tested. And if you do end up replacing the alternator, do not get the one year warranty from the zone. Get the lifetime one. Not much more and years down the road you will thank yourself for spending the few extra $$$$ on the lifetime one.

And remember, there are 3400 zones to get the alternator replaced at. That alone is worth the extra few bucks in itself if you ever decide to go out of town and it takes a dump on you. Not to mention you DO NOT need the receipt to get the alternator replaced it if ever fails. Just your phone number.

turbo_jimi · Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2004 7:19 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the input, alloy!

turbo_jimi · Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2004 8:04 pm Post subject:

Now I don't know....Alt and battery tested good. Where do I go from here?

Camaro350Z28 · Member Joined: 06 Mar 2004 Posts: 237

when you said you got nada nothin... does that mean the starter didnt even make a noise.. or did it attempted to turn the car over and just click? or what do ya mean by nothin.. if there was absolutely nothing maybe the ignition switch is on its way out or just a bad ground

turbo_jimi · Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2004 8:52 pm Post subject:

it didn't even click. or make any sound at all. the tach jumped to 3500 rpm and stayed there and the temp gauge moved up, but nothing else happened.

alloy · Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2004 8:58 pm Post subject:

Is this a stick or auto car? If it's a stick, check the clutch safety switch.

turbo_jimi · Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2004 9:04 pm Post subject:

It's a manual transmission, but would the clutch safety switch affect the headlights? Where is the clutch safety switch? Right before it decided not to start again, i noticed the radio stopped working.

alloy · Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2004 9:07 pm Post subject:

No, it would not. But I didn't see anything written about your lights not working, so was basing my hunch on the tach and temp gauges working.

JohnnyIROC-Z · Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2004 4:18 am Post subject:

It sounds like a low battery condition to me. W Ith the tach jumping all the way when trying to start it and nothing else working. If bat and alt are fine try a jumpstart, then it's time to go hunting. You probably have a short somewhere that you're going to have to find. Start pulling off things that draw power like radio, amp if you have one that kind of stuff. make sure all accessories are off yadda yadda yadda, and make sure the alternator belt is tight... Ummm.. can't think of anything else at this time.

kidcamaro · Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2004 2:56 pm Post subject:

my 91 did something like that to me today. i was at walmart and was leavin. i turned the key to start it and all i got was a click. the gauges worked but it didnt start. i tried it a few more times then it finally started. not sure what it is but i think it might be a dead spot in the starter. it sounded like all it was doing was pushing the rod out but didnt turn so it could start. anyone have any ideas if im right or worng on this. thanks for the help.

turbo_jimi · Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2004 6:17 pm Post subject:

Ended up putting a new alt in and it started up just fine....next is the clutch.

Glenn91L98GTA · Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 7:05 pm Post subject:

Alternators don't last in these cars. I've gone through 3 in my 200,000+ miles of driving.

Dewey316 · Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 7:07 pm Post subject:

I've had the same one for 84,000 miles Wink

But that is rare.

chevymad · Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 8:17 pm Post subject:

I'm on at least #5 in 255k miles. Not going to say anymore.. no jinx!

alloy · Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 9:30 pm Post subject:

Well my original one lasted me 144k before it died. Now I have one from work on it with a lifetime warranty.

Glenn91L98GTA · Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 12:42 pm Post subject:

It also seems that it is common among other GM cars built in the late 80s & early 90s. I don't know about the new cars, as the people I know that have late 90s - 2K GM cars don't have enough miles.

But I won't buy another GM alternator again. Unfortunately, in Canada, we don't have many options either. Most of the jobbers like Lordco & NAPA don't carry good quality parts either.

chevymad · Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 5:02 pm Post subject:

Most of mine have been under warranty too Dan. Just a pia when you get a call from the wife, and she's in vancouver or longview with a battery going dead. Luckily it always made it to a station where I could meet her and change it so we could get it home.

kidcamaro · Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 6:13 pm Post subject:

well since your in canada glenn. i used to go to canadian tire and i never had a problem with any of thier parts. they even exchanged a starter for me for free after the warranty was over.like i said i dunno bout the quality of the parts but i neverh ad any probs with them.

Glenn91L98GTA · Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 6:23 pm Post subject:

Uhh, I tend to pass on the "Mastercrap" stuff. They have some cheap deals for some things, and if it's for the "beater car' , I don't care. But for good performance, I prefer Lordco...but they still are more pricey than the US for a lot of the "good old made in the USA" parts.