Car trouble need help

CATCH17

1st Round Pick
Messages
68,155
Reaction score
87,448
Im either having battery or alternator issues I think.

My battery light keeps flickering but if I drive around for awhile it will go off.


It is a brand new battery and I had my alternator checked by autozone and they said it was fine (14 volts).


Also my battery gauge will jump around and never just stays fully charged.

My interior lights are also dim and my auto windows dont roll up and down as fast as normal.


Its running fine but its like everything isn't getting good power + the battery lights flickers.






This all started when I changed my gauge cluster lights a couple of days ago but the previous battery before the new one did have bad cells in it.
 
I would have the alternator checked again by someone different. My money is on an alternator issue. Ck the belt tension as well.
 
DMOB;3023279 said:
I would have the alternator checked again by someone different. My money is on an alternator issue. Ck the belt tension as well.

Who else will check alternators besides autozone?

I know they check for how many volts you have going through. Is there other things to check other than that?
 
Also when I rev my engine the battery will stop flickering right at 2 RPM's.

If I drive around for a little while than my battery light will eventually stop flickering too.
 
Do you have an Advance Auto parts? I know they will not charge. What about Pep Boys, Napa? It definetley sounds like an alternator issue to me.
 
DMOB;3023354 said:
Do you have an Advance Auto parts? I know they will not charge. What about Pep Boys, Napa? It definetley sounds like an alternator issue to me.

I said screw it and im taking it to a shop.

I'll tell you what it is whenever they give me word but im starting to think its definetely the alternator based on everything i've read on the intronet.
 
Autozone will do anything that Advance Auto would do. They both have OBDII sensors to help diagnose these types of things.

If your battery seems to be charging after the car has been run for a while, it sounds as if your alternator is fine. I'd guess that the Autozone check was correct. Sounds like a dead battery to me....or a wiring issue. Get the battery checked, and get yourself a multimeter and check for current issues in your wiring.

...or take it to a professional that won't rip you off.
 
tomson75;3023370 said:
Autozone will do anything that Advance Auto would do. They both have OBDII sensors to help diagnose these types of things.

If your battery seems to be charging after the car has been run for a while, it sounds as if your alternator is fine. I'd guess that the Autozone check was correct. Sounds like a dead battery to me....or a wiring issue. Get the battery checked, and get yourself a multimeter and check for current issues in your wiring.

...or take it to a professional that won't rip you off.

*does not compute*
 
Two things. You said that your old battery had dead cells. Do you know what caused it? How old was the battery? You also said you rewired something. Could you have an exposed wire that is grounding? This could cause what your describing.
 
In the past, I've taken my vehicles to Sears for a System check. They check the battery, alternator, and two other things I forget. But it's less than $10.

Fortunately, I've never had a problem bigger than a dead battery. I usually buy Diehards.
 
I took it to a trust worth mechanic that i've used many times and he told me that its the alternator.

Autozone measures the Volts but it doesn't measure the amps.

Evidently when they checked it was putting out around 14 volts but just because it did it there (autozone) doesn't mean it would put it out all the time.

The truck has 190,000 miles on it and has its original alternator so its done its job.





If anything changes though ill be sure and post.
 
Yep its 100% confirmed that it was the alternator.

I got a new Alternator and a new ignition + service for 400 bucks.
 
CATCH17;3024281 said:
Yep its 100% confirmed that it was the alternator.

I got a new Alternator and a new ignition + service for 400 bucks.
good to hear you're back on the road.
 
Glad to hear its all taken care of. Wish it would of been just the battery....lot cheaper.
 

Staff online

Forum statistics

Threads
465,326
Messages
13,866,364
Members
23,790
Latest member
MisterWaffles
Back
Top