I think it's the alternator, engine light comes.

ANONYMOUS

MEMBER
1988 CHEVROLET CAPRICE
86,000 MILES

I think it's the alternator, engine light comes on, blinkers dont work and runs terrible. Then I shut it off and won't do anything except slight clicking when try to start, if I charge battery everything works great for awhile and runs perfect. If I jump start it, while it is hooked to other car runs great after un hooking it starts to run bad and engine light comes back on.

Tuesday, October 30th, 2012 AT 10:09 PM

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
34,064 POSTS

Measure the battery voltage with the engine off and with it running. Off it will be 12.6 volts if it's fully charged. If it's around 12.2 volts, it's good but discharged. At closer to 11 volts it has a shorted cell and must be replaced.

With the engine running you must have between 13.75 and 14.75 volts. If it is low, suspect the generator. It is common to go through four to six of them in the life of the car. To reduce the repeat failures, replace the battery at the same time unless it is less than about two years old. Due to their design, these generators produce huge voltage spikes that destroy the internal diodes and voltage regulator. As the battery ages, it loses its ability to dampen and absorb those spikes.

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Tuesday, October 30th, 2012 AT 10:26 PM