Ok here are the symtoms. The other day I went to take the car out and the battery was dead. I jumped it off and I noticed that the oil and water indicator along with the charge light were illuminated on the dash. I decided not to take the car out and backed it in the garage. I took the battery to be tested and they said that it was dead. Today I put a new battery back in it and started the car. The same lights came on again and I had never seen them before so it makes me think that it is the alternator. i was thinking that the alternator going bad created too much load on the battery and caused it to die prematurely. What is the concensus on this? I realize I can take the alternator to have it tested but we all know how hard that is to take off and before I did that I wanted some professional opinions.

As a side note I can't really drive the car anywhere because the hi-flow cat is off having a bung welded in it, the driver side suspension is out (passenger side is done) in lou of coil overs and I wouldn't want to drive it on just the battery anyway if I thought it was the alternator.

 

I believe *all* the idiot lights should come on if there's a fault with the alternator.

The alternator is actually really easy to remove - should take like 5 minutes tops to get it out of the car. If you're unsure about it, and the car is already down for some work, take it off and take it to a local alternator shop. They can do a full test on it and fix it if it needs fixing. If it is OK, they'll let you know so you can look for the problem elsewhere.

Dale

 

I think I was thinking of my airpump when I said how hard it was to take off. I'll pull it tonight then if it is indeed as easy as I think it is. Thanks for the reply so promply. Any other input is welcome as well.

 

yes it is your alternator

 

why not just put a volt meter on it and see if it is putting out any charge to the battery? why does everyone think it needs to be R&R'd

 

Why not start it, diconnect the battery and if it keeps running your alt is fine, if it dies then it's dead Easiest test I know. I just took mine out, it was real easy to get out but I'd recomend cleaning it up. Made mine look brand new with a wire brush and some break cleaner.

 

hes right just take a volt meter to it, be alot faster

 

check the voltage output and surely inspect input voltages etc at the alternator. The thing has to have the correct harness voltage support to work as well. If all there then consider the alternator.

 

Just in case somebody else finds this thread and wonders the outcome it was the alternator. Though a pain in the *** I went out on a limb and bought one to replace it and it ended up being the culprit.

 

I had the same problem and it turned out to be the alternator as well.

 

just get a multimeter and measure to the battery with the car on..should be 14. something, thats a healthy alternator..