I was driving down the road and the battery light came on, I was about thirty miles from anywhere so I tried to continue to drive. As I went on, all the lights came on my dash then faded. I lost headlights as well as dash lights, and all activity on the dash. I was running blind. However, my car continued to run until I got home. Is this a battery issue? Can a car continue to run if the battery is dying? Or does it look as though I have a more major problem? The car is a 1997 Pontiac Grand Am. Thanks.
2006-10-19 03:27:44 · 7 answers · asked by TheresaE 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
The after turning the car off, I can restart. The car is not dying, it is running it's just that it seems the electrical is draining. I thought that if it was the alternator, it would cause the car to stop running. Is this not true?
2006-10-19 03:41:52 · update #1
i own a repair shop,and it sounds like it might have broken a belt on it,either that or the alternator went completely out on it, i have seen that happen a lot to them,you need to have it checked out because if isn't charging its not going to run very much longer,it may not start back the next time you want it to either,and the longer you wait to have it repaired the worse its gong to be on the battery,id get it checked real soon.good luck with it,i hope this help,s.
2006-10-19 03:39:27 · answer #1 · answered by dodge man 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Disclaimer: I don't know anything about cars!
I remember when I was younger, we were driving home at night and all the lights in my mom's van started to dim. We made it almost all the way home (we were a long ways from home) before the van died. It turns out that it was the alternator. You didn't say if the car will start again, my guess is that it won't. Again, I don't know anything about cars, so it might be the battery, but my guess is the alternator.
Good luck!
2006-10-19 03:38:07 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the alternator goes out, the car will use the battery to run everything until the battery goes all the way down. That's why the lights got dimmer and dimmer. All suspects point to the alternator.
Hope this helps.
Master tech 40 yrs.
2006-10-19 03:37:17 · answer #3 · answered by Cal 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Looks like an alternator problem
2006-10-19 03:50:11 · answer #4 · answered by nbr660 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like an alternator problem.
2006-10-19 03:43:06 · answer #5 · answered by ben 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
alternator likely
2006-10-19 03:35:02 · answer #6 · answered by gdwrnch40 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Alternator 99.9%, try home-recharging your battery so it can take you to your nearest 'Auto Zone' / 'Pep Boys' / 'Advance Auto' for a free charging check.
Good luck.
2006-10-19 04:00:40 · answer #7 · answered by Edingtone 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋