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Started By
Message
Alternator or Battery?
Posted on 9/18/23 at 7:43 pm
Posted on 9/18/23 at 7:43 pm
3 year old Duralast Gold battery 10 year old refurbished alternator.
I try to start the car Friday morning, and I get the clicks without a start. I jump it and take it to AutoZone to get tested, but they say the battery is fine and the alternator failed the ripple current test. I replace the alternator, and it starts up fine. I take it on a short trip to the store, but no other driving for the weekend.
Fast-forward to today. I drive to the gym which is about 4 miles away. I'm about half a mile away from home on the return trip when the radio cuts out and the low battery alert shows up on my dash. I make it home, shut it off, and it doesn't start back up and just clicks.
I've had misdiagnoses from those tests before, but I've also purchased dud alternators as well. This one is new. What's going on? I'll provide more info, if needed.
I try to start the car Friday morning, and I get the clicks without a start. I jump it and take it to AutoZone to get tested, but they say the battery is fine and the alternator failed the ripple current test. I replace the alternator, and it starts up fine. I take it on a short trip to the store, but no other driving for the weekend.
Fast-forward to today. I drive to the gym which is about 4 miles away. I'm about half a mile away from home on the return trip when the radio cuts out and the low battery alert shows up on my dash. I make it home, shut it off, and it doesn't start back up and just clicks.
I've had misdiagnoses from those tests before, but I've also purchased dud alternators as well. This one is new. What's going on? I'll provide more info, if needed.
8
Posted on 9/18/23 at 8:05 pm to facher08
I’ve been there. Was an underperforming/marginal alternator.
Get your car running and use a volt meter to see how much voltage the alternator is putting out.
Get your car running and use a volt meter to see how much voltage the alternator is putting out.
Posted on 9/18/23 at 8:05 pm to facher08
Alternator
Posted on 9/18/23 at 8:06 pm to Major Dutch Schaefer
dud alternator. i've gotten a dud battery before. it happens.
Posted on 9/18/23 at 8:34 pm to facher08
Save yourself some aggravation and buy a OEM alternator.
Plus, average life of a auto battery in the Deep South is about 3 1/2 years so it may be not far behind.
Plus, average life of a auto battery in the Deep South is about 3 1/2 years so it may be not far behind.
Posted on 9/18/23 at 9:15 pm to facher08
quote:This tells me it’s the alternator
I'm about half a mile away from home on the return trip when the radio cuts out and the low battery alert shows up on my dash.
Posted on 9/18/23 at 9:25 pm to facher08
I don’t buy anything electrical from Autozone. Oreillys used to be much better but they’ve dropped a lil bit. But still better
Go to a NAPA
Go to a NAPA
Posted on 9/18/23 at 10:31 pm to HeadedToTheWoods
Almost all of these stores sell the same batteries...
Posted on 9/18/23 at 10:52 pm to facher08
Start it up and turn on everything electrical...at idle...watch the voltmeter go below 12.
Alternator.
*eta Stay away form Autozone electrical anything
Alternator.
*eta Stay away form Autozone electrical anything
This post was edited on 9/18/23 at 10:54 pm
Posted on 9/19/23 at 9:54 am to facher08
quote:
3 year old Duralast Gold battery 10 year old refurbished alternator
3 years is about the max on the battery.
2017 Tundra
Same battery, same age, left me earlier this year.
replaced at O'Reilly, they tested said my alternator was going bad based on their machine readings.
I called BS and let it ride. never looked back. no issues with new battery.
Posted on 9/19/23 at 10:11 am to LSUTIGERTAILG8ER
quote:
3 years is about the max on the battery. 2017 Tundra Same battery, same age, left me earlier this year.
Best advice I ever received from the owner of my auto repair shop is to just change out the auto battery every 3 years to never deal with the issue of the inconvenience of having a dead battery - which I started doing a decade ago. Cheaper than a DYI oil change if you prorate the cost of the battery on a yearly basis.
Particularly important maintenance item for your wife’s, daughter’s or SO’s auto.
This post was edited on 9/19/23 at 10:15 am
Posted on 9/19/23 at 11:04 am to CrawDude
quote:
just change out the auto battery every 3 years
quote:
Particularly important maintenance item for your wife’s, daughter’s or SO’s auto.
This^^^^^^^
Posted on 9/19/23 at 11:39 am to facher08
Check the voltage at the battery while the engine is running. If the voltage is around 12V and not around 13.5-14.5V while it's running the alternator isn't working.
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