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Re: alt or batt?
Saturn cars All about Saturn cars, fans and company. (rec.autos.makers.saturn)
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#11
 
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Re: alt or batt? -
08-27-2003
, 08:23 PM
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"Tenzo" <tenzosan (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote Driving home today my battery light came on. Before turning off the engine I checked under the hood and there were no strange sounds and all the belts were tight and turning. Unfortunately the green indicator on the battery was dark. So, how do I tell if it is the battery (5 yrs old), or the alternator (10 yrs. old) ? Is an SL2 1993 Depends a bit on your philosophy: Myself, I'd change the battery, the alternator and since you have it off, the serpentine belt. You do it once and its done for good. Let us know what you do and the cost. For me, the works came just under US $300 for top of the line components. Frank 97 SL1 98,600Mi |
#12
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"Frank" <francismarquis (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote in message news:1d9ae1cf.0308270919.7adf85a4 (AT) posting (DOT) google.com... "Tenzo" <tenzosan (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote in message news:<bignol$c5i$1 (AT) bob (DOT) news.rcn.net>... Driving home today my battery light came on. Before turning off the engine I checked under the hood and there were no strange sounds and all the belts were tight and turning. Unfortunately the green indicator on the battery was dark. So, how do I tell if it is the battery (5 yrs old), or the alternator (10 yrs. old) ? Is an SL2 1993 Depends a bit on your philosophy: Myself, I'd change the battery, the alternator and since you have it off, the serpentine belt. You do it once and its done for good. Let us know what you do and the cost. For me, the works came just under US $300 for top of the line components. Frank 97 SL1 98,600Mi $500 for battery and alt. |
Ken
#13
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Old battery won't hold a charge, voltage is low but enough to start engine. Alternator produces a lot of current to charge it. Rectifiers (diodes) in alternator fry and go bad. Replace the alternator. Replace the battery. |
there's a little sparking and all going on. I know the replacement
baqtteries we've put in were always rated a bit higher than the OEM type.
Now, it seems to me there's a bit of vehicle off current draw. Maybe
what's killing everyone's alternator isn't a bad alternator, but a big
surge when recharging the battery that the alternator's a bit small for?
Not to mention the running load - is there a difference between the
failure rates of alternators in stick and automagic cars? Mine's stick
and only popped one in 200,000+ miles
--
To email me, chage 'usermale' to 'usermail'.
#14
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This gets me thinking. I knowwhen I disconnect the battery on my '93, there's a little sparking and all going on. I know the replacement baqtteries we've put in were always rated a bit higher than the OEM type. Now, it seems to me there's a bit of vehicle off current draw. Maybe what's killing everyone's alternator isn't a bad alternator, but a big surge when recharging the battery that the alternator's a bit small for? Not to mention the running load - is there a difference between the failure rates of alternators in stick and automagic cars? Mine's stick and only popped one in 200,000+ miles |
memory backup. Like the radio, engine control computer, car alarm,
etc.
Measure the current with a multimeter. Last time I tried it was very
low, don't remember the number now.
Jim
#15
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Not to mention the running load - is there a difference between the failure rates of alternators in stick and automagic cars? Mine's stick and only popped one in 200,000+ miles |
miles I've owned the car was my own fault......much less than what people make
it out to be.
#16
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Not to mention the running load - is there a difference between the failure rates of alternators in stick and automagic cars? Mine's stick and only popped one in 200,000+ miles Thats a good point. Mine's a stick and the only one I've broken in the 95k miles I've owned the car was my own fault......much less than what people make it out to be. |
#17
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Now, it seems to me there's a bit of vehicle off current draw. Maybe what's killing everyone's alternator isn't a bad alternator, but a big surge when recharging the battery that the alternator's a bit small for? Not to mention the running load - is there a difference between the failure rates of alternators in stick and automagic cars? Mine's stick and only popped one in 200,000+ miles |
after 94k miles. I'll probably replace the battery before winter comes.
-DanD
--
# Dan Duncan (kd4igw) dand (AT) pcisys (DOT) net http://pcisys.net/~dand
# The right to be heard does not automatically include the right to be taken
# seriously. -- Hubert Humphrey
#18
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Thats a good point. Mine's a stick and the only one I've broken in the 95k miles I've owned the car was my own fault......much less than what people make it out to be. |
I'm starting to think the alternator isn't the culprit here. Yes, I
know the behind engine location is 'supposedly' bad (though I've never
seen temperature readings for both on top and behind locations), but I
seem to recall that the Saturn was one of the first cars with an
electronic tranny (was Chrysler's Ultradrive the first?), and having a
few solinoids in there adds a load even if they are just little pilot
types working the valves body. And another computer, etc etc etc.
Given the popularity of automatics, a difference in failure rates sure
would make it 'seem' that the alternators are weak. And we know
transmission shifting troubles are often a sign of impending alternator
doom...
--
To email me, chage 'usermale' to 'usermail'.
#19
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I'm starting to think the alternator isn't the culprit here. Yes, I know the behind engine location is 'supposedly' bad (though I've never seen temperature readings for both on top and behind locations), but I seem to recall that the Saturn was one of the first cars with an electronic tranny (was Chrysler's Ultradrive the first?), and having a few solinoids in there adds a load even if they are just little pilot types working the valves body. And another computer, etc etc etc. Given the popularity of automatics, a difference in failure rates sure would make it 'seem' that the alternators are weak. And we know transmission shifting troubles are often a sign of impending alternator doom... |
would 'seem' that the alternators themselves are the problem. Maybe there is
another cause.
Regardless though, the alternator installed in the vehicle should be tough
enough to withstand the stress that is put on it by that vehicle.
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