Which is wrong with my car....??

Question

I was recently in a car accident and damaged the front drivers side of the car...front bumper replaced, side quarter panel replaced...back from body shop..car looks like new, does not feel like new...The day after I get my car back I went out to the store, came out to leave and the car turned over for about 7 seconds before it started. Today I went out again and when I came out of the store my car would not even turn over...click click click click nothing. Hooked up one of those portable jump packs to the battery and the car started up IMMEDIATELY. I drove the car immediately to the garage that fixed my car from the accident. They took it in and looked at it, got some print out and is telling me the alternator is bad. Do you really think its the alternator thats bad? If it is, is it possible that the alternator some how got damaged because of the accident? I find it really hard to believe that the alternator just happened to go bad at the same time as accident. R the 2 related somehow?

During the past 2 days I had driven my car to a few places without having trouble starting the car...drove for 35 minutes and the car started and drove no problem. Maybe the alternator is working sometimes? Just has not fully gone out yet?? I just don't want to replace my alternator to find out its the starter or something like that....esp. if the insurance company isn't going to pay to fix it. I should find out tomorrow if the insurance company is going to pay for a new alternator..

Ok...the car is a 2001 Toyota Corolla. The alternator is not on the same side of the car that was damaged.

Answer 1

From what you are describing it could easily be the alternator or the battery.....as for being related to the crash it is possible that the impact could have either knocked something in the alt loose or damaged the plates inside the battery, also it is possible that some of the wiring harness got pinched and you have a minor short.

Answer 2

i own a repair shop,and an alternator can be good one minute,,and junk the next one,,they go out that fast,,and as far as it having anything to do with the accident,,yes it could have,if the alternator was shaken up a lot when the car was hit it probably did effect it,,that's why with an accident you always leave the claim open until you have had a chance to check the car real good and make sure the mechanical is going to be alright,never let an insurance company close a claim,,once the car has been repaired you can keep it open for 30 days,,this way you can see if its going to be alright,,but yes i do believe the alternator could have went bad from age or the accident,,either way they should have to repair it,,good luck hope this help,s.

Answer 3

Alternators can go bad at any time. The only way that the accident could have effected the alternator is by making the wiring lose or disconnect. It is more likely that the alternator just karked it without any help. It is one of the most unreliable parts of a cars engine from my own experience.

Answer 4

Sounds to me like the alternator as it charges up your battery as you drive. The 2 could be related but it seems unlikely. It depends on the age of the alternator if your car is newer then I would say yes the accident did cause this issue however if it is older I would say it is just worn out. They are fairly cheap and very easy to replace.

Answer 5

if you arent at fault then the other persons insurance should cover everything that is wrong with the car. just have everything you think is necessary to replace, replaced. If it is a serious thing that affects whether or not your car will start, i think you can have it fixed and reembursed later by the insurance company.. depending on who is at fault.. call your lawyer and ask him about the legal stuff. if it is covered... then let your mechanic replace whatever he feels is necessary, especially an alternator. by the way.. do you drive a 2002 hyundai? i know prolly 1000 people get in car accidents a day... but i just got rear ended the other day and i was wondering if it was you =)...

Answer 6

They could be....is your alternator on the same side as the collision? The alternator could have been damaged causing your battery to not be recharged when you drive, which would explain the starting slow then no start at all (because of a low then dead battery). Alternators aren't too expensive so it is better than something more serious.

Answer 7

Sounds like the Altenator to me. Because it needed a boost to turn over and start, it is a power problem, and your altenator is your power generator. If the altenator is not correctly working then your battery will not charge effectively, and then its done. It's either that or the battery and it is usually the altenator. Now if once your car is running turn on the fan to max, the heater on max, the lights and if the car will continue to run for 20 minutes the altenator may be working, and you may just have a bad battery. So do my little test, and if the car does not stall out, altenator is fine and you likely need a new battery. If the car stalls, its likely the altenator

Answer 8

Start your car again, while it is running disconnect the Positive battery cable, if it stays running the alternator is okay, just your battery wont charge while it is disconnected, by the way cut the engine off before you connect the cable back up.

Answer 9

It has been my experiance that alternators can go any time they take a notion to. :( Just as sudden as a heart attack. Replace it and if the new one fails call your insurence agent.

Answer 10

Wackowarn,you are correct.I believe you have a short to ground on the repaired side of the car.If your alternator was bad it would not start consistently.