Hello,
So the last time I posted, I was having problems with the car starting, etc. What 1st was happening was that I was driving to work and the car just started to freak out, radio off/on, dash lights flickering, etc. I pulled over and the car wouldn't start. Had it towed back to my apt where a friend jumped it, and it would stay on but would struggle, etc. I replaced the battery, and it seemed to be working OK. Now, the battery light is BACK ON again. This happened the 1st time, the battery light came on, and then went off again the next time I started the car. I have no idea what is wrong this time... It sounds like the alternator? I have the BIG 3 done, if that matters at all.

Any help?

Thank you for reading,
Chris

check your alternator. if the problem is causing the lights to dim and the car to struggle to stay on, i would assume its your alternator

Ok, I went to autozone. They tested it 3 times. The first time, he tested the battery and it said, it was OK, however, it had a low charge. Then, he tested the alternator, and stated that it told him to check connections from battery to alterator. Then the other times he tested it came back just fine.

I really, am not sure as to what is wrong. I am afraid to drive it. What I am going to do is check connections from battery to alternator... Would this cause problems with low charge? OR is that just a bad alternator?

Take off the battery connectors and clean them with a green scrubby pad. Then pull the connectors on the alternator. For the part of the connectors that you can't get to with a scrubby, use the softer side of an emery board, for filing fingernails. Ask your wife/girlfriend for one and pay her for the whole package, they're handy.

Don't forget to remove the Negative connection at the chassis/block ground connections and clean them, under the battery tray on some versions.



Alont

To test the system to see if you are charging...if you have a volt meter, check to see if you are getting 12VDC on the battery first. Next start the car and retest at the battery. You should see that your system is charging up to 14.4VDC. That is the easiest...first test...if you get everything good there and you still have a battery light then you will want to check your cables. Inspect first by eye...or....remove the negative cable from the battery and dig in. Be careful to note everything you see. Make sure that you check the condition of the cables...any of those cables look like they are loose? Tighten them...carefully....see if you are missing any of the outer insulation that covers the wires going to the battery and to the alt. I am not sure where all our fuseable links are with the exception of one near the starter...check all that over IF you don't see 14.4 volts and don't worry too much..My 04 cavi is at 94k +/- and my alternator just died. Not fun removing it!

Hope that gets you started

Rich