Ok so after a nice long drive id say about 3 hours in the rain might I add. My battery light came on. I remembered from the last time my Alt went if I rev'd it up a little the battery light would come on and off. So I did just to see. Well the battery light turned off. So I went on my merry way figuring Id get home and check it when it wasnt raining in the AM. Well............. Next thing I know the battery gauge started going up to H every time I hit the gas the ABS light flashed on and off, all the gauges went crazy then reset. It did this 3 times then stopped once the battery light returned. The car was running normal with the exception of the battery light. So I finally made it to a safe place to leave the car for the night. At the same time the car pretty much lost all its power. By the time I parked it the radio was down and the windows didnt work and the wipers moved slowly. So I finally got a ride after pretty much begging everyone i knew. Thats when I realized I never turned off my head lights and my cell was still charging. So I got curious and attempted to start her back up. Well she started up nice and strong like nothing was wrong except that wonderful battery light. Eventually after about a min or so the power started to fade again. I was thankful for the few seconds of heat and let it be. But could it be just a simple Alternator/Battery issue that got such a reaction from the car as it did?

 

Nothing as simple as a loose or corroded ground lead is it?

Steve

 

Not sure...... It was pretty late last night so I left it where it was. Im gonna grab a volt meter and a fuse kit and head to it and give it a look over. Im not too skilled with this kind of stuff so i might just end up towing it to the dealer to get slammed

 

I'd check the floor to see if it is wet on either side up front. Lots of issues from rain water getting in bad windshield seals.

 

Its all dry....... when I started it up now the alternator is squeaking so I'm assuming that's it. Its on its way to the dealor now.

 

The pattern you describe would be consistent with a bad alternator as one possibility. You didn't by chance put your meter on it to see what it was putting out?

Steve

 

No I didn't have time to look for it. Had to borrow a car so my time frame was limited on this one. Thankfully the tow driver was fast. Ill post up once the dealer is done beating me to the ground so people with a similar problem can have a reference.

 

Ok well I got the call from the dealer and it was the Alternator after all. One of the Diods(spell check) went bad. So after getting raped Ill have it back in the AM

 

Diode. I'm going to guess $350 plus towing.....

 

No no...... with labor towing and all it was about 800. For the alt and a new batt

 

I hope they at least took you out for dinner and a movie before sticking it to you.

 

$800, HOLY CRAP ! I agree, they should have taken you out to dinner and a movie before giving it to you up the butt. Makes me glad I'm a do-it-yourselfer when I see charges like that.

 

800 I bet most was parts and towing, labor was what 2 hours?

 

You should be able to replace the battery and alternator in under an hour easy, but I bet you're right, I'm sure they charged 2+.

 

I'm guessing one hour diag, then one hour r&r for alt,