Hey, problem...
I drove the car to school today and when I tried to turn the radio up loud while driving the deck <aftermarket> simply cut off, then came on again and cut off, almost like it couldnt handle the CD being that loud. It worked turned low however. Then the battery light came on and has stayed on since. The lights, both interior and exterior still work and the car runs fine. Everything else works fine except the radio. It almost seems like the car doesnt have enough "juice" to support the radio turned up loud... is it the battery? but doesn't the car's electrical run off the alternator once it is running? The battery is not old either and the engine was replaced recently.

ALTERNATOR PROBABLY, that is how my prizm just acted a couple days ago, my alternator was shoot. My radio turned off then i noticed that my head lights where very dim after 30 minutes of driving. Check for a loose ground as well, on the radio.




PRND321 Till I DIE
Old Motor: 160whp & 152ft/lbs, 1/4 Mile 15.4 @88.2
M45 + LD9 + 4T40-E, GO GO GO

check your battery terminals, and get ahold of a multimeter...set it to DC VOLTS greater than 15v, and start the car.. test the terminals with the car running and see what your getting for voltage..should be around 13.5 -15volts..if its 13 or under, replace the alternator..

yeah, either an alternator or a bad connection.


<img src="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-11/504808/z28.jpg" width=317 height=59>

Thanks guys, hopefully it is a connection because I've dumped way too much $$ into this car repairwise...

I could have someone test the car at like Autozone right? they probably have a multimeter.

they have a special unit that they test the charging system with... i was just saying if ya had a multimeter, u could do it at home and get just about the same information they would give you without the drive down there..

Well, the cars dead now... the radio finally failed altogether on the way to work and the windshield wipers were slow as hell. Then later I went to lunch and the car barely made it... everything began to turn off one by one, the airbag light went on, the radio quit, the lights quit, even the gauges began to go on and off. The car could barely idle by the time i parked the thing for good. After my shift I barely was able to start it and it ran really rich (computer had no power so uncontrolled fuel?). I turned it off for good and now I have to wait until Monday to move it... I has to be the alternator right?

i have the same prob with my stock radio.....but not that i run my fron outputs to a pre-amp converter and take it to my amp, i can turn it up really loud and it works fine. i have no idea about mine, however they are right on yours....get your alternator rewound, or rebuilt, i think its called rewound, lol. Your batt does NOTHING more than startup...alternator runs the car electronics when you're driving it.

SPITfire wrote:I has to be the alternator right?

yes...but make sure the mechanic recharges your battery now as well. shouldn't cost extra.



2002 Toyota Celica GT

Its your alternator, I am 100% sure. My car did the same thing 5 days ago. My was caused by my air ride though. The only reason your car continued working still for a while is because your battery was probably nearly full.

I would seriously consider replacing the alternator yourself. It would take 1-2 hours max. I just took mine out last night, it took me 30 minutes, now I am just waiting for me 180amp alternator to arrive

Good luck anyways here is a link to how to remove the alternator: http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?ForwardPage=/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/19/16/12/0900823d80191612.jsp




-Nate (ZeeTwankyFo)

My car acted that way roughly a week before I had to replace the battery. Check the battery first, you can take it to any Auto parts place and they should be able to do that for you. And if it's not that then the alternators gone bad.

Quote:

Its your alternator, I am 100% sure. My car did the same thing 5 days ago. My was caused by my air ride though. The only reason your car continued working still for a while is because your battery was probably nearly full.

you were right... thats what happened... I also am going to fix it myself with a friend since I picked on up on stock at Autozone for 160 ($55 core charge)... I also am gonna replace my accessory belt while I'm at it. My friend says its like a 20 minute job if everything goes smoothly
Also, the battery is dead now... Autozone says it is bad for the alternator to start it up on a dead battery and that I should get it charged up for free then put it in... is this true?

I had the same thing happen to me two days ago. First, my battery light went on, then the radio would shut off anytime I had the stereo turned up past volume level 25 and there was a large bass kick. Thought it was the alternator and spent $100 on a used one from an auto wrecker. Went to have someone put it in for me and we noticed that the serpentine belt was completely gone!!! Damn thing must have snapped off on the highway or something. Anyway, bought a serpentine belt for it and we couldn't get the damn thing on last night. So I am having the car towed to a local Canadian Tire and having them do it for me. And here I thought I would save some money by buying the used part and having a friend replace it, no labour ... bought the wrong part and still have to take it to a garage. I'm so pissed!!!