Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting alternator dead?

so im driving back to the apt today when my car just dies, falls flat on its face. i turn the key off then on. nothing, volt gauge is reading less than 8 volts. some lady stops and givrs it a jump and i manage to drive it back to the apt. the whole way back, everytime i touch the gas it about stalls. if i hold the gas slightly for long enough the rpms go up and i can slowly go forward. when im moveing if i step on the gas it starts to stumble. this whole time the volt gauge never goes above 8 volts. i think the alternator finally craped out after 220xxx miles.

Either that or the battery has a shorted cell. Get a cheap volt meter and mesure on the terminals of the battery. you should have 12volts, start the car and you should have about 14.3 on the meter. If not, battery cell (have it tested) or charge circuit/alt. Make sure your terminals r tight and clean. If the battery has a "eye" make sure it is green.

At 220K miles, you got your money's worth. I would also change the battery if it is more than 75kmiles on that.

the battery is a virtually brand new optima red top so im pretty sure its not the battery (although ive seen stranger) as for the voltage when running, i would go measure it but seeing as how it was at less than 8 volts the whole way back to the apt it doesnt start. which also means that the battery isnt fully charged.

Your symtoms are the exact same ones I had when the alternator died on my 98. Damned ALTERNATOR light never did come on even though there was no output (the light did work at POST).

If you fully charge that battery, you should be able to get 20-40 miles before it dies again. Want to ask me how I know that?

Alternator replacement is about as much fun as doing a tax return.

Steve

well thankfully i have a zetec so the replacement wont be that bad. i would charge the battery and go get a new alternator but i dont even have a battery charger (going to pick one up when i get the alternator though)