So my car has been having issues starting and the gauges have been freaking out a little. I recently changed my alternator and I'm still having the problem. My battery is about 5 years old. I'm wondering if my battery isn't strong enough to charge my new alternator. Any ideas?
2007-07-27 09:38:08 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
its possible your alternator isnt holding a charge i just changed my for that reason or the battery may not be able to hold the load bc its not strong
2007-07-27 09:46:16 · answer #1 · answered by sam_freudiger 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Your battery may be the problem. Take it to an auto parts store, they will be able to check for you, usually for free. You can also remove the cables and clean them. Some times the acid residue will keep the battery from making good contact. This usually happens on the positive cable. You can buy cleaner at the auto parts store, or use a regular old fashioned coca-cola. Make sure it is not cold. When the cable is disconnected pure just a little coke, or cleaner on it. It will clean it right up in a second. You don't mention what kind of vehicle you have, so this next part is for newer models. Newer model vehicles are very "electric." They have many sensors. So when your turn your key your vehicle needs all the juice it can get to start. One of to things is happening. The battery is faulty, dirty, or loose; or maybe a sensor is not functioning properly. If your gages go crazy while you are driving: There is a sensor called a Crank Sensor, it costs about 15 dollars. Problem is that it is usually a dealer part. If your gages are going a little crazy (like RPM) and then it goes back to normal this maybe your problem. Take it to a mechanic and they can hook it up to a computer. That computer will 9 times out of 10 tell you what the problem is.
2007-07-27 17:44:57 · answer #2 · answered by Sparky D 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The battery is probably getting weak and not holding a charge. the alternator charges the battery not the other way around. Go to a tire and battery shop and have a load test done on your battery, they usually do it f free. 5 years is about the life of most conventional batteries.
2007-07-27 16:48:14 · answer #3 · answered by redd headd 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your battery is maint. free. Take it to a parts store and have them test it, or look for the green eye, green good, not green bad. If you can take the caps off the battery, check the level of each cell. Add water to top it off. Then give it a shot. As far as your gauges, a battery wont cause that unless you have a fauly connection or wire when you replaced your alternator.
2007-07-27 16:50:27 · answer #4 · answered by mellowguy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take the car into autozone or another shop and have them do a load test on the battery to detemine if it is still good.
2007-07-27 16:44:21 · answer #5 · answered by Fordman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
buy a new battery. Or check to see if has battery acid around the cables u can use coke just pour it on the battery acid and it will git rid of it.
2007-07-27 16:46:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
clean the terminals
2007-07-27 16:42:31 · answer #7 · answered by dumbo 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋