Battery Indicator on - Alternator prob?

**hansel** · August 30th, 2008 08:53 PM

Hi

I was driving along Edsa last night and the battery light indicator in the dash suddenly went on. Arrived at the destination 10 minutes later. After 3 hours, went home and on the way, I noticed that the dash lights, headlights, aircon were all very weak. I turned them all off and got home 25 mins later. I researched sa net and it seems like an alternator problem. I tried to start the car today and it started with one click. The indicator light was still on. i checked under the hood and the fanbelt of the alt was ok and seemed to be working well. The third time i tried to start it, there was just a clicking sound and would not start. Is the problem the alternator or could it be something else like the battery? Thanks sa reply. Also what are the options for the alternator? Buy new or surplus or could it possibly be repaired?

**bambino** · August 30th, 2008 08:59 PM

it's seems like you 're having problem with the alternator

but first have it checked by an auto electrician and once idendified that it's the alt you have options

either new, rebuilt , or ot can also be repaired

**hansel** · August 30th, 2008 09:14 PM

Thanks for the quick reply bambino. does anyone know of any auto electrician who might do home service to check for sure what the prob is? i dont feel too comfortable bringing the car to a shop as i dont think the car can make it there.

also, is it difficult to remove the alt from the car so i can just bring it to the shop to have it tested?

**yapoy86** · August 30th, 2008 11:28 PM

your description clearly manifests a charging problem...

possible causes are:

- loose wirings of alternator (IC connectors)
- Worn out carbon brush
- defective IC or regulator

if you have the proper tools and a little know-how you can easily have the alternator removed and bring it to an electrician..

well if your car is already old say 10 years, highest possibility of problem cause is worn out carbon brush

**aga_cruz** · August 31st, 2008 08:34 AM

try mo start kotse mo then tangalin mo battery pagnamatay ang makina ibig sabihin sira ang alternator mo?

btw:sir pag ba nakailaw ang batt indicator at nag 2rpm or 3k rpm nawawala ba o humihina ang ilaw ng batt indicator?

sa tingin ko IC CHIp yan .

**userfriendly** · August 31st, 2008 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by aga_cruz

try mo start kotse mo then tangalin mo battery pagnamatay ang makina ibig sabihin sira ang alternator mo?

btw:sir pag ba nakailaw ang batt indicator at nag 2rpm or 3k rpm nawawala ba o humihina ang ilaw ng batt indicator?

sa tingin ko IC CHIp yan .

I read before that removing the battery terminal while the car is running may damage the ECU. Article said that it does not always happen but there is a chance that it will. Sorry cant find the link. But to be safe, best to have an auto electrician check the alternator. There are test that they do using a tester.

**bambino** · August 31st, 2008 10:09 AM

userfriendly, you're right about that

that will create a spike to other modules that potentially do a major damage to them

**yapoy86** · August 31st, 2008 12:30 PM

basically the alternator needs the battery to create the initial charge.. when you remove the battery while the engine is running, the alternator will charge will drop and may result in unstable voltage supply that can damage some of your electronic parts such as the ECU... the alternator needs the battery to create the charge unlike dynamos in generators which are self-exciting to produce the electricity

**hansel** · August 31st, 2008 11:24 PM

thanks for all the advice. ill try to remove the alternator and bring it to a shop to have it diagnosed and maybe repaired or replaced. i dont think the car will make it to the shop if i try