Guest vodkaboy Posted August 19, 2003 Share Posted August 19, 2003 it all started 2 days ago... i was driving down to a friend's house, when my charge light turned on (meaning my battery isnt being charged). looking back on it, i also smelled something that was kinda funny on the way (kinda like a roasting belt)... got there, checked my belt, looked fine, figured i and my car was just being stupid, and moved on... on the way home, my parking brake light turned on... next day, starts fine, go to drop my sister off at gymnastics, drive off, go to store for food and to cash a check at the adjoining bank, leave to go pick my sister up from gymnastics. when i tried to leave the gymnastics place, my volt gague read just under 12 volts (its usually just over 12 volts), but it wouldnt start, or even turn over more than once... got a jump, went home... a few hours later i left with no problems for a friend's bbq, but when i was leaving to go home, i needed a jump again... got a jump, decided to take the car around to charge it up... a little while later, i noticed my idle was VERY rough, and i was aparently running on 8 volts... barely made it the rest of the way home... any ideas as to what might be the problem? i dont think it is a direct result of my alt, voltage regulator, or battery, as all of those are only about 6 months old, give or take (although if you know of any good way to test these, i am open to ideas)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rick458 Posted August 19, 2003 Share Posted August 19, 2003 How fast does the battery recharge? if it charges from flat to full quickly you probably have a shorted cell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vodkaboy Posted August 19, 2003 Share Posted August 19, 2003 its not the battery... i actually have an update though update: decided to jump the car tonight... jumped and it started fine... but when i tried to turn on the lights, it died, which kinda sounds like a voltage regulator problem, am i correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t-tom Posted August 19, 2003 Share Posted August 19, 2003 Jump the car and then disconect the battery. If the car stays running its the battery if the car dies or starts to spit and sputter then dies it will be your altenator (sp?) or the volt reg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vodkaboy Posted August 19, 2003 Share Posted August 19, 2003 Jump the car and then disconect the battery. If the car stays running its the battery if the car dies or starts to spit and sputter then dies it will be your altenator (sp?) or the volt reg. i remember hearing that some electrical systems REALLY dont like that, and when you remove the battery it will fry things... also, isnt the battery an integral part of all of the car's circuits? so pulling it would disable the entire car? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t-tom Posted August 19, 2003 Share Posted August 19, 2003 All the battery is used for is to start the car (on older cars like the z) I wouldnt do it to a new car but you wont hurt anything. Ive done it a hundred times on my Z's threw the years (and a few chevys). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vodkaboy Posted August 19, 2003 Share Posted August 19, 2003 verdict: its the alternator. its not quite dead, but it is in the process of dying... took it to a shop today that does free charging system diagnostics, and it provides a charge, but its almost no charge at lower rpm, and even when it is at higher rpm its kinda on and off... so... new alt on warranty tonight... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vodkaboy Posted August 23, 2003 Share Posted August 23, 2003 so... it was actually the voltage regulator that was dead... replaced it, and 12 hours later, the new one is dead... the gremlins in my car are hungry, what should i check to keep them at bay? think that perhaps my alternator is somewhat messed up, and then causing damage to the voltage reg? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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