Can I drive this car for a week at a time with a bad alternator?

BRANDONGOCHENAUR07

MEMBER
1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING
2.5L
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
103,000 MILES

I was wondering if it’s possible for a car to be able to drive for a week at a time with a bad alternator. My battery is not charging and slowly loses power over time. The A/C squeaks when it’s on. I went to change the serpentine belt, but when I realized I don’t have the right part I tried to the belt and pulleys back up, but now it is internally smoking when it drives. I took it to the mechanic, and they said I need a new alternator because they can see it is internally smoking, even after I told them it only started smoking after I messed with the belt. Do you believe it is the alternator or the belt if the car can drive for a week at a time without having to charge the battery again, the A/C squeaks when it’s on, and the smoke/burning rubber smell only happened after I messed with the belt and pulleys?

1 Reply

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
48,363 POSTS

You need to have the belt on the engine and the alternator must work to be able to drive the car. Here is how to change the part out which you can find on Amazon, or Rockauto.com. Here is a generic guide to help walk you through the steps with the instructions for your car in the images below. Make sure the serpentine belt is on the pullies before starting the engine.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-an-alternator

Pre-Removal Operation
1. Under cover side panel
2. Reservoir Assembly

REMOVE
1. Pump cover
2. Drive belt (A/C compressor)
3. Drive belt (Power steering oil pump and generator)
4. Intake manifold plenum
5. Generator bracket
6. Intake manifold plenum stay
7. Generator harness connector
8. Generator
9. Tensioner pulley bracket
10. Tensioner pulley
11. Generator bracket

INSTALL
1. Generator bracket
2. Tensioner pulley
3. Tensioner pulley bracket
4. Generator
5. Generator harness connector
6. Intake manifold plenum stay
7. Generator bracket
8. Intake manifold plenum
9. Drive belt (Power steering oil pump and generator)
10. Drive belt (A/C compressor)
11. Pump cover

Post-Installation Operation
1. Reservoir Assembly
2. Drive Belt Tension Adjustment
3. Under cover side panel

Check out the images (below). Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

Image (Click to make bigger)