Car stopped running in mid traffic, able to pull to side of road. Two mechanic shops worked on it, so it involved two separate tows. I kept suggesting it was the alternator, was told alternator was good. After many days in the shop, it was finally tracked down to a break from the battery wire to the alternator, apparently hidden because the crimp wouldn't allow the mechanic to see the break visually. One would think that an open circuit would show up in a voltage check with a digital multimeter.
Suggested fix: of course, solder the wire instead of crimping it. Too many potholes around here for crimping to last forever. Lucky I didn't get hit by someone on the highway. Chevy Cavalier only puts out 83 Amps of current at 2,000 RPM, the highway speed where the alternator can at least start recharging itself. Buy more life insurance.
so this started today, it all happened really quickly in under 5 seconds, and was doing it on and off all day. all the lights on the dash will flash, the dash area made a clicking noise, then i lost power steering and then the car died? then it would take like five tries to get it to turn over again. i have no idea, no check engine light , i take it to my mechanic and of course nothing went wrong??? please help me
- kfulgenzi,
Painesville, OH, US
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Car stopped running in mid traffic, able to pull to side of road. Two mechanic shops worked on it, so it involved two separate tows. I kept suggesting it was the alternator, was told alternator was good. After many days in the shop, it was finally tracked down to a break from the battery wire to the alternator, apparently hidden because the crimp wouldn't allow the mechanic to see the break visually. One would think that an open circuit would show up in a voltage check with a digital multimeter.
Suggested fix: of course, solder the wire instead of crimping it. Too many potholes around here for crimping to last forever. Lucky I didn't get hit by someone on the highway. Chevy Cavalier only puts out 83 Amps of current at 2,000 RPM, the highway speed where the alternator can at least start recharging itself. Buy more life insurance.
- Joseph D., Clifton, NJ, US