ReZzZ320

hey guys i'm faced with a really annoying problem here

my car's battery keeps dying every morning before I head off to work. when I took it to an electrician he told me the alternator was weak and it needed a new volt regulator. After I replaced the regulator he advised me to have the battery checked or replaced (despite the battery being a week old) SO I did just that and they say that the alternator is weak

my question is should I replace the alternator altogether or just get a new battery?

Huachipato

I would think they could check/replace the battery for free - especially if it is only a week old. But a weak alternator is probably not going to be able to keep the battery charged, so you may run into the same problem all over again in a few days.

sosh

Think you should get a new mechanic/electrician. Maybe that will solve the problem

sanjm23

yah it sounds a bit fishy, the coils on an alternator either burn out or are working fine. If the power out of the alternator is low they should be able to tell you that right away. Non of this guessing game. I think u need a second opinion and if the alternator is not giving enough amperage then change it.

45acp

i agree. all they would need is a voltmeter to test the alt output and the battery output-at idle and w/engine off. this should pinpoint the problem.

ReZzZ320

well I realized how weak the alternator/battery were when the ABS and ETS lights kept coming on plus headlights were losing power. So I thought it was most probably the alternator that's not generating enough power for the battery

anyways I was wondering what's the best deal I could find on an alternator rebuild for my car??

ruffrob

www.thebenzbin.com Reasonable prices on just about everything

koskesh

I think the alternator brushes are bad because it seems like it's working but not really. you get voltage but the alternator brushes aren't making good contact to feed all the systems, get those checked before you pay for a complete rebuild. I've had this problem before and it's easy fix, though the alternator has to be pulled out.

sosh

Do not believe that there are any aternator brushes in newer alternators.

ReZzZ320

thanks for the tip anyways I have managed to isolate the short circuit which originated from the FOOTWELL LIGHTS (the ones under the doors) so as a temporary precaution I managed to disconnect them and now the car starts fine with no problems at all. But it seems to me that the door sensors on the B-pillar don't seem to be working. Plus the voltage regulator already needed replacing because the old one did not regulate enough power through the alternator.

-Rez