Hey guys. On my way to work this morning, my engine started losing a little bit of power and my "INFL RESET" light started blinking every once in a while. The tach was way off, at least 3 thousands RPM more the engine was doing and my voltage guage was reading a little above 8. I immediately shut off all my accesories including the radio. I made it to work... and right as I stopped in my parking spot the engine died and the check engine light came on very dimly. LOL It wouldnt even turn over anymore. The battery is dead that's for sure... could that because the alternator stopped charging it ? I havent had the time to take a look at it yet since I'm at work still. THanx

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92 Z28 5.7
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Trick Flow 23° heads, Comp Cams XR270HR-10 cam, Accel intake base + ported TPI,
TES headers, Flowmaster catback, MSD ignition, #24 SVO injectors, 1LE aluminum driveshaft.

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Sounds like your diagnosis is correct.

 

What you do to check your alternator, take a voltmeter and measure your battery, obviously charge it first, but its suppose to measure somewhere in the 12 volt area. 12.5 I believe. If your battery doesnt read up to this then you need a new battery. But if it does or you get a new one, start your car and hook the voltmeter up to the battery and if it reads in the 12.5 volts, your alternator is good, if it goes down then you need a new alternator, but let the volt meter "sit" so to speek on a voltage, becayuse it will jump around for a bit.

 

Sounds like you diagnosis is correct, but here is an easy way to check to see if its your alternator or not. Jump start your car and drive around a little.. if your car run's, you know its not your alternator b/c you car cant run that long on the battery alone.

If your car dies, thats a diffrent story. It could be the alt., or a few other things. If your not comfortable with using a voltmeter, go to Pep Boys or Auto Zone. They have a machine to test your alt.

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88 GTA Notchback
A4 / 350
Stock
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Kill List:
95 Mustang GT
88 Mustang GT
94? Impala (real close)
97 Dodge Neon
86 Corvette
2000 Prowler
And more Civic's then I can count. Why do they even bother?

 

Here is the easiest way to check if your alternator is still good or not. Start the car, leave it in park and then open the hood. Pop off one of the battery cables. If the car stays running then the alternator is good and its keeping the car powered. Now if the car dies, replace because it is due.

 

88, you can't jump start a 4L60/700R4.

Blade, you are right: the alternator is toast. Your's died exactly like mine did when it went. Did you hear any "whining/squealing" sounds from under the hood? Mine did that too.

 

Don't disconnect your battery while your car is running, thats an old thing that people used to do, but not on modern cars! Your electrical system is a circuit, removing part of it can send a surge of power through and fry something. That is what fuses are for, but it still is not a good idea.

The whining and squealing was your bearing, thats the main death an alternator can die. W