ok, so since about sunday in the late afternoon, my car has been perty screwy.....
first there was some weard noise whn i would back up, it would happen sometimes....but not its happening perty much every time......ok, thats not that big of a deal....
the big deal is the face that when i was driving, warning lights would go on that didnt make any sence...and is making me scared to drive my car...
the e-break light would be on along with the ABS, and i checked the parking break and the light still didnt go off......then they would turn off after driving for a while...
also, my theft system light has been on a few times....as well as the air bag light and the driver seatbelt light......
ok, so theres that stuff, i guess thats a big deal, cuz i dont really feel safe driving the car when its goin scitzo....
my car has also been having problems starting on the first try.......i'm perty sure i know what is wrong with it....my alternator isnt working.....its not turning at all....
after school yesterday my car didnt start and i tried at least 20 some times....
went back later with some friends to jump it, cuz i figured it was the battery (the radio would turn on then off, then back on and so on....).....we jumped it, got it working and then my friend took a closer look then i did and was like, dude, your alternator isnt spinning......
long story short....(even tho its already long)...
i had to push my car home last night....wasent that bad, my friends all helped out a bit.....
i hooked the battery up to a charger this morning and it was totally dead.....so i'm gonna leave it charge all day......
question #1
will an alternator from a 92 baretta fit in my 98 cavalier?......i've looked at it, and it looks like it will fit in... i measured the didtance of the 2 bolts, and thats where my judgement is coming from, but if someone knows forsure....let me know
question #2
so something is wrong with my electrical system.....obviously....but what exactly, anyone have any clues?? i dont exactly have a whole lot of money to spend on my car a the moment.....i'm just working weakends at my job until school is done with
question #3 (this is just for fun i guess, make me feel a lil better)
whats the furthest you guys have ever (if ever) had to PUSH a car...towing doesnt count....
if anyone has any solid advice that would help me, please do
thanks guys!!!
maint. forum might help you better
15.2@89mph 2.171 60ft. 9.830 1/8 R.I.P. "LULU"
I'd get the alternator sorted out first, with the hopes that all the electrical problems are related to poor charging.
The furthest I've pushed a car, with one other person, was about about 3/4 mile. It was an old 1958 Ford that my boss had is his collection, which had just been out for painting. On the way back from the body shop it stalled out and didn't have enough juice to restart. Then we discovered it was probably also out of fuel. So rather than worrying about a Jerry can and jumper cables, or trying to find a tow vehicle, we shoved it the rest of the way to try and beat the rain on the fresh paint.
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With the alternator not spinning (weird problem) your car isn't getting enough juice, and the PCM is detecting that. The ABS system requires 12-14 volts to work properly, that may be the noise you were hearing, and is quite possibly why your idiot lights in the cluster were illuminating. Get your alternator replaced and check out your belt while you are at it, a non-turning alt. pulley may have caused damage to that belt from it rubbing around the pulley. Then let us know if that fixed things.
