Lance dreams he’s an auto mechanic

Our wagon’s stupid battery light has been flashing on and off.  In case you don’t know, the battery light doesn’t warn you there’s a problem with your battery.  It warns you that there’s a problem somewhere in your car’s electrical system, most likely the alternator, but maybe not, maybe it’s just a loose belt, but mostly likely the alternator, though maybe not a major problem, maybe it’s just that the brushes are dirty or worn, but don’t count on that, probably you need a new alternator.  It could be the voltage regulator’s not regulating, but with the cost of labor replacing that will ding you almost as much as installing a new alternator, so you might as well give it up and spring for the alternator, unless it is the brushes, in which case,  if you have the know-how you could try replacing them yourself and see if that works, like you’re that lucky.  Buy the new alternator already, you schnook!  At any rate, this is what I would like to be doing tomorrow.

How to Replace Worn Alternator Brushes -- powered by ehow

But since I don’t have the time, or the skill, what I’ll be doing tomorrow is dropping the car off at the shop with the instructions to tighten the belt and clean the brushes and then waiting around for the phone call from the mechanic telling me I need to replace the alternator.

Comments

[charlie]

could be the battery cables as well.

The advantages of a new alternator vs brushes is new bearings. And when we say "new" we really mean rebuilt.

For most cars, getting to the alternator is enough of a PITA that it is worth paying someone $500 to deal with the pain. And I mean pain -- scraped knuckles, sore arms, and what not.

Ask them to throw a new belt on at the same time. There is usually some other work that can be done.

[Lance Mannion]

charlie,

FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS??????

Actually, a few months ago the light was coming on and then I had the belt replaced, which took care of that. Car's been running fine since. It's still running fine. No other symptoms but the warning light. I'll have the mechanic check the battery cables. But could it be that the new belt's slipped or come loose?

[Doug K]

skill requirements are minimal, if you can operate a wrench and a screwdriver you can do this.. time is the real issue of course.
Look for a forum for your car, for example I've fixed a lot of things on the van with help from
http://www.siennachat.com/forum/77-how-guides-do-yourself-instructions/

It might be simpler than you fear.

Also might easily be that the new belt has come loose, we'll hope for that..

[Ken Muldrew]

I think you should give it a try. At least try tightening the belt. That's quick and easy if you have a few tools.

[Lance Mannion]

Ken, have the tools, didn't have the time and we needed both cars before the weekend. Don't really have the space to work on a car once the weather turns cold. Small garage. Turned out, though, it wasn't the belt itself that was the problem. The belt tensioner assembly needed to be replaced. Parts + labor + tax =
$180. Not pocket change but a lot cheaper than a new alternator.

Doug, thanks for the link! I bookmarked the site. I may not ever be a mechanic but at least I can pore over the site and pretend.

[muddy]

Sometimes it's the light that has the issue.