Weird electrical issue (possibly alternator?)
09-03-2013, 07:13 AM
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Weird electrical issue (possibly alternator?) A few weeks ago one day randomly my radio wouldn't come on for about a couple days. That was the only symptom, until after a couple of days without the radio working, the car wouldn't start. Jumped it, drove it to O'Reilly's to have the battery tested, and I think I remember he said the voltage was fine but the amperage was low or something, and the tester said bad battery and he assumed a cell had gone out.
Replaced the battery, radio and everything worked fine. Fast forward to a couple days ago. The radio quit turning on again. And just like last time, today the car is completely dead (haven't used it for a couple days). No lights come on, heck the car is so dead the automatic door lock/unlock switch doesn't work.
Other symptoms (I don't know if related):
-- (I find this one conspicuous) the car never starts on the first key turn when warm (seems to start on first turn when cold), usually have to turn it over 2-3 times. When it does start it sputters for a second before the engine starts idling steadily.
- I don't notice it any more, but back several months ago I'd notice the headlights dim sometimes. I haven't really looked to notice it in a while though
- Replaced the driver window motor recently after it burned out and now I get a pretty terrible, loud noise when rolling it up now. Don't really use it often, and passenger window works fine (probably unrelated, but just want to include anything)
- Radio is aftermarket, been there for almost a year. Speakers also aftermarket Kee Audio
- I believe the voltage gauge has always read 13V +
Replaced the battery, radio and everything worked fine. Fast forward to a couple days ago. The radio quit turning on again. And just like last time, today the car is completely dead (haven't used it for a couple days). No lights come on, heck the car is so dead the automatic door lock/unlock switch doesn't work.
Other symptoms (I don't know if related):
-- (I find this one conspicuous) the car never starts on the first key turn when warm (seems to start on first turn when cold), usually have to turn it over 2-3 times. When it does start it sputters for a second before the engine starts idling steadily.
- I don't notice it any more, but back several months ago I'd notice the headlights dim sometimes. I haven't really looked to notice it in a while though
- Replaced the driver window motor recently after it burned out and now I get a pretty terrible, loud noise when rolling it up now. Don't really use it often, and passenger window works fine (probably unrelated, but just want to include anything)
- Radio is aftermarket, been there for almost a year. Speakers also aftermarket Kee Audio
- I believe the voltage gauge has always read 13V +
Last edited by transamguy91; 09-03-2013 at 09:57 AM.
09-04-2013, 08:53 AM
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Update:
After work had a buddy jump the car (it was still completely dead). Everything started up and worked like a charm, and the battery started charging again.
This morning it started but the idle was pretty intermittent. Wiggled the battery cables a little and it ran fine. Such a strange problem. Especially the head unit not getting power, unless perhaps the head unit is the only thing ran through the battery or something and the battery cables aren't making a clean connection for some odd reason (not corroded though).
After work had a buddy jump the car (it was still completely dead). Everything started up and worked like a charm, and the battery started charging again.
This morning it started but the idle was pretty intermittent. Wiggled the battery cables a little and it ran fine. Such a strange problem. Especially the head unit not getting power, unless perhaps the head unit is the only thing ran through the battery or something and the battery cables aren't making a clean connection for some odd reason (not corroded though).
