Need some automotive help

[solid snake]

So here's what going on, Saturday the "no charge" light come on in my mom's cadillac. The battery is good, plenty of water in it and both terminal cables are tightly secured. The alternator is practically brand new, just put in a new one this summer. The car starts fine but stuff like the turn signal, wipers, and power windows seem to be affected. The seem to opperate slower, like the turn signal seems to take a second or two longer to flash.

Anyone got any advice as to what may be causing this problem or how to fix it?

[edawg99]

It sounds like a sensor or an electircal problem. I would go and get a diagnostics test done at a automotive repair shop. I'm sorry I couldn't be more help.

[Val]

Hi Snake ... nice to see you here.

Well ... my first option would be the battery but you told that it's new.
So, I think your car alternator doesn't send the proper energy to charge the battery, harming the rest of the electric equipment.

This is the case: your battery charges and discharges in a very short period of time. You must go to the mechanic to examine your car alternator with a device called "meter".



Then the mechanic will say if the alternator is sending the right charge and in a constant way to keep the car battery always full.

In a normal situation, the meter will show the following numbers 12.784762837... and so on. Why? Because the first number "12" is the voltage of our cars. If the meter shows less than this number, means that your alternator is sending a low charge to your battery.
So, go there and check it.

[Samson The Cat]

The battery in my mom's car broke down lately. No warning signs earlier, I just lost all power (not even the lights went on anymore). I first thought the problem must be somewhere else and suspected a leakage current somewhere due to corrosion, but it really was the battery.

The car starts fine but stuff like the turn signal, wipers, and power windows seem to be affected.

Any fuses burnt through maybe? Because if it starts fine, generator and battery don't seem to be the problem source.

It sounds like a sensor or an electircal problem. I would go and get a diagnostics test done at a automotive repair shop.

Agreed.

[solid snake]

i thought about a fuse too, I'll check that tomorrow. A friend of mine a work listened to the mengine today anspecifically the alternator and he said it sounded like some bearings were going bad in the alternator.

He's a mechanic for the hospital and he has all kinds of stuff to do different tests so I'll probably bring the car up to his shop at his house so we can go over everything

thanks for all your inputs

[Val]

Originally Posted by solid snake

A friend of mine a work listened to the mengine today anspecifically the alternator and he said it sounded like some bearings were going bad in the alternator.

Means that I'm right in the same point.
So, just watch the mechanic work in your car and after you share with us ok? I'm sure he will use the meter first to find the problem.

[solid snake]

well the car won't start now, and I know it's not the battery cause all the interior lights and headlights are fine, my cousin Danny said it could be the voltage regulator....all I know is that the car is a piece of crap.

[Val]

So snake ...
how is your mummy's car?

[bobrules]

Originally Posted by solid snake

well the car won't start now, and I know it's not the battery cause all the interior lights and headlights are fine, my cousin Danny said it could be the voltage regulator....all I know is that the car is a piece of crap.

A starter requires something like 600 cold crank amps. Your interior lights require nothing remotely close to that. Its very possible for the battery to be too drained to turn the starter over, but still able to power your dash/lights.

A voltage regulator in your alternator is a 10$ part. Its why almost every autoparts chain (Pep boys, Autozone etc) require a core exchange when you buy a new one. Because they sell you an alternator for 150$, you give them your old one, which they replace the regulator (or bearing, 2 most common failures) for 10$ and then sell that alternator to someone else for 150$.

You're alternator should be outputting something around 13-14 volts if you use a voltmeter to read it.

[Val]

Woahhhhh .....
Old members posting!!!
Welcome to the car forum bob!
Hey Eric ... I think you should do an introction thread about the car fans. I can do it if you want. May I?

Turn your headlights on first and see how bright they are. If they are really bright, turn on the ignition key and try to start the vehicle. If the lights almost go completely out, you have a connection problem. You said before, the vehicle started fine but, the light etc. weren't working right. That's a indication that you most likely have a ground problem with the interior hardware. Also, check the small wire that comes from the starter to the rest of the car. If the body ground wire doesn't have a good connection, this will lead to poor electrical performance inside the vehicle. If the lights are low and goes out when trying to start your vehicle, it's a indication that you have either a bad battey, poor ground from the battery or a defective starter that letting the current drain. I'll try to check this forum again shortly to see where you are... Good luck.