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Author
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Topic: Need help badly... Alternator or battery
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RioredGT
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Member # 2300
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posted
 
 
Damn my car gave a surprise today... Went to turn it on and it "click click click". I'm thinking low battery. I give it a jump and it fires up. I disconnect the cables from the jump car, 5 seconds later my car dies. Tried to jump it again, same exact thing. It only stays on if its attached to the jump car. I noticed there's a blinking battery light on the dash. Manual says charging system needs to be checked.
Any ideas on how I can isolate whether its the battery or the alternator? Battery isn't more than 2 years old. Alternator is original. Is there anything else that could be causing this?
Car is a 98GT.
Posts: 410 | From: Bay Area | Registered: Jan 2003
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Egocentric
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Member # 9529
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posted
It's not the battery, go with alternator.
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08 G37S
72 C10 Custom
R6
quote:
ain't no one tell me what to do. - NEIGHT
Posts: 1712 | From: NoOneTellMeWhatToDo-Neight | Registered: Oct 2009
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FivePTSlow
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Member # 7682
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posted
easiest way to tell is to get your car started then remove only the positive battery cable... if it dies then 99% it's the alternator
Posts: 1857 | From: Sacramento | Registered: May 2007
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KevinK
Tech Mod
Member # 9234
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posted
First, your battery is dead. It needs to be recharged if it is still good. The aternator is not designed to recharge a dead battery. That's how you fry the alternator. The battery is about 500 amps so you need to put that back into the battery somewhat slowly. It can take 2 weeks to charge a battery correctly with a battery charger.
Next put a volt meter on it while the car is running to see if it maintains the 12-14 volts. It will die at about 8-9 volts. Otherwise you are just throwing parts at it.
Posts: 196 | From: San Mateo, CA | Registered: Jun 2009
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SLOWSN95
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Member # 8269
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posted
Its a bad alternator. Over time, your alternator drained the battery. Even if the battery is completely dead, your alternator would continue to run the car after being jumped. Batteries are there to start the car and alternators are made to keep the car running and charge the battery at the same time.
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94' GT
347 Stroker
MM Suspended
2003 SB SVT Lightning
Pullied and Lowered
89'Hatch-SOLD
Posts: 2214 | From: 510/east bay | Registered: Mar 2008
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$icInsane
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Member # 10068
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posted
alternator
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49ERZ TILL I DIE!!!!
1989 DROP TOP 306
Posts: 545 | From: YAY AREA | Registered: Jun 2010
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RioredGT
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Member # 2300
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posted
Thanks for the replies guys ![[patriot]](graemlins/patriot.gif)
It turned out to be the alternator. Went to Ford and got a replacement. The thing is, this "new" one whines like crazy, makes my car sound like if I have a Vortech under the hood. Probably gonna be taking it back for another one. They're not supposed to whine like that are they?
Posts: 410 | From: Bay Area | Registered: Jan 2003
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50DADDY
CAFords OG
Member # 3076
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by RioredGT:
Thanks for the replies guys
It turned out to be the alternator. Went to Ford and got a replacement. The thing is, this "new" one whines like crazy, makes my car sound like if I have a Vortech under the hood. Probably gonna be taking it back for another one. They're not supposed to whine like that are they?
NO!
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"Im not stupid,i just act that way so i dont make you dummies uncomfortable."
"Old age and treachery shall overcome youth and skill."
Posts: 4827 | From: Suckramento | Registered: Jul 2003
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SLOWSN95
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Member # 8269
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posted
Take it back
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94' GT
347 Stroker
MM Suspended
2003 SB SVT Lightning
Pullied and Lowered
89'Hatch-SOLD
Posts: 2214 | From: 510/east bay | Registered: Mar 2008
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Sydewayz_Stan
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Member # 10217
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posted
sounds like the new one has a faulty bearing
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-90 Vert-SOLD
-91 Notch-SOLD
-2000 Explorer 5.0-SOLD
-72 Maverick-SOLD
-2004 GT, vortech V2 si, 10 psi-
-2002 F150 supercrew-
Posts: 3432 | From: 707 vallejo/richmond 510 | Registered: Aug 2010
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MACK.GT
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Member # 10461
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posted
if you got an external voltage regulator, you can just replace that. its only 50 bucks. but have autozone test your system. they can really isolate the problem. they did for me, and saved me some $$.
Posts: 446 | From: 510 | Registered: Nov 2010
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