PZA

Hello, I bought a 2001 Firebird formula with 23,000 miles. Today the diodes seem to have gone bad. The car is still starting and running, but I hear a whine when im driving. The whine is pretty loud. The battery meter is usually around 13, but now it is 8 and stays 8. Is it usual for this to happen? The car supposibly has been sitting for a good 10 years.

hardbones

Age is a factor on this one, especially if it was not started for 10 years.

PZA

I do not know how long the car has actually been sitting. I was told the car was only driven a tiny bit of the months. In 2002 the carfax shows the car with 11k miles - and that's the last record.

hardbones

take it off and have it rebuilt, that at least keeps it original

transwiz

iTrader: (26)

i agree with hardbones, send it in and have it rebuilt. That's what I do with my cars.

sgtrgpfdps

If mine goes where's a good place to rebuild it. I'm Detroit area ?

cookba

iTrader: (10)

compare prices between rebuilding and just going to LKQ or junk yard and getting the truck alternator.

f00rmy

iTrader: (1)

Please don't go to the junkyard for such an un molested !in your case I would rebuild it. The majority of them units for sale are remaufactured anyways.

Btw good find! Pics?

wssix99

iTrader: (5)

Before you do anything, you should have it tested. (Auto Parts stores will do this for free.) The alternator could be fine. It could be something simple like a broken exciter wire.