Driving into work Thursday, my IROC started running rough at a stoplight. It shook horribly and I could hear a rumbling noise I'd never heard before. I noticed the battery was about as far down as the gauge could go. It died seconds later at the next stoplight and would not start back up. I was three blocks from my office, when it died. My dad boosted the car and drove it home, having it die on him on the way back. Its parked at home now and I haven't moved it since. I'm not sure of the age of the battery but know the alternator is about 2 years old. I planned on replacing the battery before this event occured but hadn't thought about the alternator. Does this sound like a problem with the alternator, battery, or both? Previously, my IROC did give some trouble starting up in the mornings. I was led to believe it just cause its a 13 year old car and thats how they run, but I thought there was something more to it.

To make matters worse, after walking the three blocks to my office I arrived to find out my computer, a Dell running Windows 2000 Pro, had crashed. My hard drive was not recoverable but I did have a one week old backup.

 

it does sound like the alternator to me. the battery is hard to tell, usually if the alt goes bad then so will the battery. its usually just smart to replace them both.

When you buy an alternator, try to get the best quality one you can. I've gotten quite a few cheap ones and i hated them all, they always squeel like you wouldnt believe. I even went so far as to remove the one on my daily driver; take it apart and oil up all of its bushings.

 

A bad alternator can kill a battery, and a bad battery can kill an alternator. Better replace both.

 

A smart friend told me once, If one breaks you might as well replace both of them ( EXAMPLE ) If one of your headlights go bad do you replace the bad one or both. Just a little preventive maintenance.