Im stationed up in alaska and the temp get really low. The other night my vechicle was running fine. I plugged in the battery heater and go to my room. The next moring i start my truck and i notice the battery light is on. I thought the battery might of gotten cold somehow. The truck ran for 3 hours and it died while running. That makes me think it is the alternator. But i wasnt sure. Maybe the battery just went bad. I didnt think a alternator could go bad in one night. I can jump start it and it runs for about 3 minutes and then dies. Could it be that the battery went bad and dosnt hold a charge and the alternator cant keep it running or is it just the alternator that is bad.
2007-12-07 16:16:53 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Just altenator
2007-12-07 16:21:17 · answer #1 · answered by polkan47 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all a alternator can die any time! It doesn't nescessarily need a reason! Now about the running till it died! Did it stop while you were watching it, -- or was it dead when you checked it? It could have died and ran battery down ( for some time)-from all the accessories being turned on!
Next issue, -did you fully charge the battery up? If you just put the jumpers on, and start, then disconnect, -- there isn't enough power back in battery to "excite the alternator"! You are going to need at least 1/2 a charge to bring voltage and amperage up to make the alternator work right! All a "quick jump" will do is put enough "juice" in to run vehicle with things turned off for a few minutes, - then it is going to go dead!!
Don't buy anything till you check battery, and alternator! You can get this done at auto supply store or WalMart (If you are in a "civilized" part of Alaska). You can probably pull the alternator of without much trouble, - but I would run engine for a while and see if battery "comes up" before launching into pulling parts off! Also if engine runs a while it will be a little warmer to work on, (so you can feel the wrenches and bolts with your fingers)! The battery of course you can take inside, and charge overnight (if you have one of those "cheapie" chargers)!
Now about Alaska, - does your parking lot have one of those "trees" between parking spots so that you can plug in car at night?- Or at work? I would reccomend a "tank heater". It makes the engine start so much easier, and battery can crank and start it easily. In addition to that you will have heat inside car immediately. Of course a heated battery will make it work a whole lot better too! I lived in Wisconsin and thought -40 was pretty cold, but I spent a year at Campion AFS (10 miles from Galena) I have no idea how cold it got there, - the thernmometer only went down to -70!
Near end of tour I became squadron commanders "driver" and Ferried" him back and forth between Campion and Galena "AFB". There were days that it was appropriate to take battery in house with you and "sleep with it" - so you could get truck to start next day. We didn't have tank heaters, - and the trucks were kept in a building (where it rarely got below "0") -- but a warm battery sure helped them get started! I even saw a truck that had brake fluid freeze in brakelines, then the freezing/expansion set the brakes, and they had to push into the garage with a caterpillar! That is cold!! But it was also almost 50 years ago, and I have gotten over it! Now I live in Texas!!
2007-12-07 18:46:42 · answer #2 · answered by guess78624 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
commence by making use of changing the battery. If it won't commence with a sparkling battery, then you certainly probable have an electric powered situation and for a ninety seven, you could locate it greater low priced to interchange. bear in recommendations that Mitsubishi is having some form of anniversary element on the 2d so which you will possibly be waiting to get a solid deal. I even have had a guideline which you ought to additionally replace the alternator. Do the battery first. If the fee easy comes on mutually as the motor vehicle is working, then replace the alternator.
2016-10-10 12:45:48 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hook up a voltmeter and see what's happening. When the engine is running at a fast idle, you should see something like 13 volts or more. If it's under 12V, then the alternator isn't doing its job. Even if the battery is weak, the alternator should put out enough current to keep the truck running.
It might be the regulator, if there is a separate one (not built into the alternator).
2007-12-07 16:25:55 · answer #4 · answered by Wombat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would say the alternator went bad. if it was a problem with the battery once you got it started the alternator would put out enough power to keep it running as long as you wanted
2007-12-07 16:25:00 · answer #5 · answered by jon s 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well i would have to say that the belt on the alternator could be slipping or the alternator is just bad which could also cause a blown alternator fuse
2007-12-08 04:35:42 · answer #6 · answered by 1999 Nissan Skyline GTR Vspec 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
first try cleaning the battery posts and clamps
2007-12-07 16:24:49 · answer #7 · answered by smokey 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋