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Old 07-12-2009, 09:45 PM   #1
FLJayson318
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Default alternator or battery

Here is the story. I am not sure if my alternator is bad or i need a new battery. I bought the battery last year when i replaced my starter and also about 3 months ago i got a stereo system in my car.

I was going to work in the morning and i get into my car wouldnt start. I had to get a jump from my dads truck. later on that night when i got home i charged the battery all night. In the morning today i went and tried to turn on the car and it wouldnt start. I had to get the charger to jump my car, once i got it started i drove the car around for about 30 minutes thinking it woudl charge my battery. I got home and checked my battery life and it was at 12%.

Is my alternator not working or do i just need a new battery? Im starting to think my bad idling the past 2 weeks is from this...?

PROBLEM SOLVED. It was my battery... I went and got it tested and my alternator is just fine(phewww) my battery was under warrenty still so i went to advanced autoparts and they gave me a new one for $30.

Last edited by FLJayson318; 07-13-2009 at 06:00 PM. Reason: solved
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Old 07-12-2009, 09:48 PM   #2
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Probably alternator, could be starter needing more power than battery and alt can provide and sucking all the power on startup/burnt windings (common failure).
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Old 07-12-2009, 09:53 PM   #3
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battery
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Old 07-12-2009, 09:54 PM   #4
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thats what i was thinking... Ive been looking up alternators today for a 318ti and ive found bosch 90 amps for 129.99 on ebay? is that a good deal or no?
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Old 07-12-2009, 10:16 PM   #5
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if your alternator were bad the alternator light on your dash should come on, also after a jump start, if your alternator were bad your engine will probably die in the middle of a drive if you havent yet experienced this yet.
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Old 07-12-2009, 10:21 PM   #6
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There's no way of telling based only on your description. You need to read the voltage across your battery when the engine is running/off. Sears will test your charging system for free and diagnose exactly what the problem is. When the car is running, you should see about 14v going across the battery and/or the back of the alternator. Do yourself a favor and pick up a digital multimeter, it'll come in handy for issues like this. You may also want to check your main engine ground. look under the car at the passenger side motor mount. There should be a wire connected to the motor mount arm going to the chassis. Make sure it's not loose or corroded.
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Old 07-13-2009, 12:51 AM   #7
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what kind of battery did you get? my word.. you just replaced it, and its giving you problems.. it cant be the battery... if it is, it is somehow under warranty then.. since i mean, most have a 5 year warranty or something around that.

its probally a bad alt and maybe some bad wiring

habor fright and other stores sell a cheap tool that will test the battery and alt, and tell you which it is..

normally the light will dimmy glow or light up if it was the alt
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Old 07-13-2009, 03:09 AM   #8
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i did notice my headlights running low. im taking to to the mechanic in the morning cause im getting tired of jumping my car... ill have him look at it real fast and tell me which one it is
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Old 07-13-2009, 03:10 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FLJayson318 View Post
thats what i was thinking... Ive been looking up alternators today for a 318ti and ive found bosch 90 amps for 129.99 on ebay? is that a good deal or no?
good deal, stock alternator is an 80 amp, with the subs a higher amperage is a good idea, you may want to increase the size of the wires though just so you don't burn them out with the higher current
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