Ohio Chatter
Ohio Chatter

Forums

All Threads Serious Business Sports Politics Archive Pick 'ems
Log In Create Account

Car Question: Battery or Alternator?

Home ▸ Archive ▸ Serious Business ▸ Car Question: Battery or Alternator?
Quint's avatar

Quint

Captain

737 posts
Jan 23, 2012 12:43 PM
I would like to preface this by saying I have zero knowledge about cars. I did some google searches, but I figured since everyone on OC has a genius IQ. . . I'd post a question.

Facts:
Saturday, my battery light came on. Sunday night, I noticed a slight delay in turning over when I started the vehicle. After driving for about 10 mins that same night, my windshield wipers started going very slowly, my headlights became dim, my dash lights went out, ABS light came on, oil light came on, and then I lost power steering. I pulled over and the vehicle died. I got a jump, and it started right up. I then drove it to my home and turned it off. I haven't tried jumping it again, but it will not start (it does have enough juice to turn on the inside lights when I open the door, but it will not turn over).

Vehicle Information:
The vehicle is a 2001, with over 150k miles on it. The battery does look like shit, and I have not replaced it since I purchased the vehicle in the fall of 2010. I drive a lot (600-1000 miles/week).

Question:
Is this an alternator issue, a battery issue, or something else? Any input would be appreciated!
Jan 23, 2012 12:43pm
Thread Bomber's avatar

Thread Bomber

Message Board Terrorist

1,851 posts
Jan 23, 2012 12:55 PM
Start it up and unhook (carefully) the battery from the cables. If it stalls it's the alternator.
Jan 23, 2012 12:55pm
Emmett Brown's avatar

Emmett Brown

Senior Member

478 posts
Jan 23, 2012 12:55 PM
I would say alternator.

Hope this helps.
Jan 23, 2012 12:55pm
4cards's avatar

4cards

Ohio Chatter Legend

2,551 posts
Jan 23, 2012 12:56 PM
...sounds like the battery is not able to hold a charge, so it could be the alternator not doing it's job, but take your car to Autozone & they can test the alternator, battery, charging system for free while you're still in the car if you can get it restarted.
Jan 23, 2012 12:56pm
J

jmog

Senior Member

6,567 posts
Jan 23, 2012 12:58 PM
Sounds like the alternator, but chances are if your alternator died while driving and you drove on just a battery (sounds like you did) you might need to replace both.
Jan 23, 2012 12:58pm
Emmett Brown's avatar

Emmett Brown

Senior Member

478 posts
Jan 23, 2012 12:58 PM
4cards;1063097 wrote:...sounds like the battery is not able to hold a charge, but take your car to Autozone & they can test the alternator, battery, charging system for free while you're still in the car if you can get it restarted.
The battery has nothing to do with power steering going out does it?
Jan 23, 2012 12:58pm
Pick6's avatar

Pick6

A USA American

14,946 posts
Jan 23, 2012 1:15 PM
sounds like alternator so far

do your exterior lights still turn on? I recently had my battery go bad and all my lights, etc would come on, just wouldnt start.
Jan 23, 2012 1:15pm
said_aouita's avatar

said_aouita

Banned

8,532 posts
Jan 23, 2012 1:17 PM
Emmett Brown;1063096 wrote:I would say alternator.

Hope this helps.
Either that or a missing (alternator/Serpentine ) belt.



At the worse you blew it up. Didn't notice it overheating quickly before it died, did ya?
Jan 23, 2012 1:17pm
Quint's avatar

Quint

Captain

737 posts
Jan 23, 2012 1:22 PM
Emmett Brown;1063096 wrote:I would say alternator.

Hope this helps.

Jan 23, 2012 1:22pm
Quint's avatar

Quint

Captain

737 posts
Jan 23, 2012 1:25 PM
said_aouita;1063128 wrote:Either that or a missing (alternator/Serpentine ) belt.



At the worse you blew it up. Didn't notice it overheating quickly before it died, did ya?

No overheating. Battery light came on Saturday morning. I was in the process of moving so I couldn't get it checked out until Monday. I drove it around all day Saturday with no issues. Drove it for about 10-15 minutes on Sunday before everything went out.
Jan 23, 2012 1:25pm
Quint's avatar

Quint

Captain

737 posts
Jan 23, 2012 1:26 PM
Pick6;1063122 wrote:sounds like alternator so far

do your exterior lights still turn on? I recently had my battery go bad and all my lights, etc would come on, just wouldnt start.
I haven't tried the exterior lights, but all the internal lights come on when I open the door, but it just clicks when I turn the ignition.
Jan 23, 2012 1:26pm
se-alum's avatar

se-alum

The Biggest Boss

13,948 posts
Jan 23, 2012 1:28 PM
Redneck alternator test, start your car and hold a screwdriver near your alternator. If your alternator is functioning correctly, it will have a magnetic field. No magnetism, bad alternator.
Jan 23, 2012 1:28pm
mucalum49's avatar

mucalum49

Senior Member

1,639 posts
Jan 23, 2012 1:29 PM
Had this exact same thing happen to me in August. It was both for me. I had the original battery on an 8 year old car. But even when I got a new battery my car still stalled out and wouldn't start. I had to get a new alternator as well.
Jan 23, 2012 1:29pm
Pick6's avatar

Pick6

A USA American

14,946 posts
Jan 23, 2012 1:30 PM
Quint;1063140 wrote:I haven't tried the exterior lights, but all the internal lights come on when I open the door, but it just clicks when I turn the ignition.
Im going to say battery. How far did you drive your car after you got it jumped? If it was the alternator, it would have died not long after you jumped it.

A battery will go a good distance as long as the car is running.


Also could be like mucalum said and be both. The whole power steering going out and stalling on you while driving screams alternator, but other signs tell me the battery is bad.
Jan 23, 2012 1:30pm
Belly35's avatar

Belly35

Elderly Intellectual

9,716 posts
Jan 23, 2012 1:33 PM
Step one check to see that your alternator belt is tight :D that would be the quick fix tighting the belt or buying new belts

if that not the problem Alternator but have auto zone check it out for you...
Jan 23, 2012 1:33pm
Quint's avatar

Quint

Captain

737 posts
Jan 23, 2012 1:33 PM
After I jumped it, I drove it about a block and a half, but I left it running idle for about 15 mins when I got to my destination.
Jan 23, 2012 1:33pm
se-alum's avatar

se-alum

The Biggest Boss

13,948 posts
Jan 23, 2012 1:39 PM
If you wait till it gets dark, you can turn on your headlights, and if they are shining normally, try starting the car. If the lights don't dim when you do this, 99% sure it's the alternator.
Jan 23, 2012 1:39pm
Pick6's avatar

Pick6

A USA American

14,946 posts
Jan 23, 2012 1:41 PM
I think 2 things. The battery and the alternator belt or alternator.
Jan 23, 2012 1:41pm
4cards's avatar

4cards

Ohio Chatter Legend

2,551 posts
Jan 23, 2012 1:43 PM
Emmett Brown;1063100 wrote:The battery has nothing to do with power steering going out does it?
...Actually it does. The power steering pump is actually motorized, and not powered by the accessory belt. If your charging system is weak, then it will affect the power steering pump motor, just like any other electrical accessory
Jan 23, 2012 1:43pm
nc52's avatar

nc52

and he comes in the night

419 posts
Jan 23, 2012 11:50 PM
alternator
Jan 23, 2012 11:50pm