Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Alternator Problems...HELP!!

I am on my fourth alternator right now. My second in 2 months. The first time this happened i needed to be towed because the car would not start even when jumped. So the local towing company replaced the alternator for me. Now the alternator is under warranty from this place and i am kinda stuck with going back there everytime this happens. They had originally told me that the problem was my sound system. However, I had already gone through two alternators before I had my system installed.

What else could it be? im sick of having to always pay the labor and return my car there every couple months.

I think it is time to get a second opinion. Take the car to someone else and let them test it and see what they say. It may be worth either paying someone else to replace the alt again, rather than the tow shop, or replace it yourself.

The tow shop is probably using a subpar rebuilt alt and you might just need to get a better alt.

Have the battery tested. A battery with a shorted cell killed my alternator, and the only way I knew there was a problem is when I let the car sit for a couple of days without being driven. The car wouldn't start then, but it was fine as long as it was driven every day...

Agreed.

yes, the battery should be changed. If it gets discharged a couple of times, then it should be changed, otherwise, you are straining the alt.

I would double-check the wiring of the charging system and the grounds, if you still have problems.

iougs -