Car will not start or run

VSSOUTLET

MEMBER
2008 PONTIAC TORRENT
3.4L
V6
4WD
AUTOMATIC
105,000 MILES

I was driving and my traction control light and brake light went on. Then my power steering went out. Then I saw a battery indicator pop up on my DIC. Then the car stopped and could not be restarted. I checked the serpentine belt and it was fine. It sounds to me like an alternator failure. How can I verify that this is, in fact, the problem. And not something else like the ECU?

I am also getting random short humming noises in the car with the key out completely. Sounds like a servo trying to operate.

5 Replies

HARRY P

MECHANIC
2,292 POSTS

Get someone to hook up jumper cables to your car and sit for twenty minutes while connected to the running car. Then drive your Torrent to the nearest auto parts shop to have the alternator tested. They will do it for free

If you cannot get someone to hook up jumper cables, then take your battery out and take it to the nearest parts shop and have them charge it for you. Again, they will do that for free. Then put your battery back in the car and bring the car to have the alternator tested.

Or, if you have a voltmeter or multi-meter, you can test it yourself. Here is a how-to guide on that: https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-alternator

So do one of those things and let us know what you find. We will go from there.

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Sunday, August 5th, 2018 AT 5:08 AM

VSSOUTLET

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57 POSTS

Update: I sat for a couple of hours until a nice man came along and jumped me. I took my multi-meter once the car was running again and got 14.25 at the battery terminals with the engine running. There was no significant drop under load. I tested the alternator directly and got a steady 15.37 volts there. I read the following codes from the car when the problem was occurring : CO550 CO899 and B2655. Those codes read as "Historical" when I re-scanned the car once it was driving again, so I assume it was related to whatever condition caused the initial problem.

I have had intermittent problems for months with the transmission surging and banging into gear. I cannot get the car to do it for the mechanic. This is why I asked about the ECU. I am trying to think of something that could be the cause of all these problems.

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Sunday, August 5th, 2018 AT 6:13 AM

VSSOUTLET

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57 POSTS

What do you suggest I do now?

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Sunday, August 5th, 2018 AT 2:57 PM

VSSOUTLET

MEMBER
57 POSTS

Do I need to ask another question in another thread?

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Monday, August 6th, 2018 AT 12:15 PM

HARRY P

MECHANIC
2,292 POSTS

Sorry I missed your response. I would still have the alternator fully tested. It is free to get it done at the local parts shops and only takes a few minutes. The voltage regulator could be heating up and giving out after a while, which would stop/reduce the alternator's output. This is something that does commonly happen to cars, particularly ones with the regulators built into the alternators, like yours is.