not starting

Jetfoi34 · Post by **Jetfoi34** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 4:30 pm

pulled into a parking lot today and the car stalled - so i tried starting it again and it would crank once or twice but not turn over
the volts were pretty low so i called for someone to jumpstart me
got it running and drove it home and parked it - a min after i parked it i tried starting it again and nothing - no cranking no nothing
so is there anyway of telling if its the altenator or the battery?
i dont think its really a factor but its a 91 3.1 5-speed with 160,000miles

if i jump it it will run but as soon as its off its completely dead

GTZ&IROC-Z · Post by **GTZ&IROC-Z** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 4:34 pm

try jumping it again and pull the cable from the battery, if it stays running your alternator is ok and there may be a problem with your battery. if it shuts off on the other hand theres something wrong in the alternator area.

Jetfoi34 · Post by **Jetfoi34** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 4:39 pm

ok thanks ill go see whats up
stupid question actually... pull the positive or negative or both or what?

GTZ&IROC-Z · Post by **GTZ&IROC-Z** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 5:26 pm

pull the positive cable, if it stays running your alternator is good if not theres a charging system problem

Decipha · Post by **Decipha** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 8:41 pm

if the car stalled then THAT seems like its the alternator... only 3 bolts to swap it out

If you don't have a tool for the belt tensioner then i would recommend using a 2x4
cram it underneath the belt tensioner and pull the board down making the tensioner
rise. I fould its actually easier than the belt tensioner tool and works perfect for me.

rweatherford · Post by **rweatherford** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 10:20 pm

If your battery was your only problem you could have just ruined or damaged your alternator by running the car with no battery. That will kill alternators. Weak batteries can damage alternators too.

Have the battery checked. If it is bad replace it. Then have the alternator checked. If bad replace it.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 11:42 am

Hi there is u find the problem because mine is doing the same most times , but not always I can tell when she will before stopping she feels like she will stall out but doesnt I have spent a fortune and she is not running right

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 12:26 pm

DO NOT PULL THE CABLE !!! in newer vehicles you run the risk of sending a voltage spike thru the comp and could possibally damage it. It's recomended that anything after 79 you shouldn't do that trick. Most car parts stores can do testing on the parts in or out of the car or you can buy a pocket tester for like 10.00 advance auto sells them and theyre pretty accurate.

1988GTU · Post by **1988GTU** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 12:43 pm

I picked that up for under 2 dollars. Did it's jobs.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 12:45 pm

They've went down BIG TIME I paid like 10.00 3 yrs ago. LOL

GTZ&IROC-Z · Post by **GTZ&IROC-Z** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 11:15 pm

i,ve pulled the cables off many vehicles to test and never ran into any major problems, i'm a truck mechanic too and do the same, my foreman and I both agree that this test is ok, but i do agree with the weak battery part and can see what your saying

1988GTU · Post by **1988GTU** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 12:15 am

If you pull the cable off the car as it is running, you run the risk of a voltage spike and that could cause many many things to fail (IE - ECM, sensors, anything inline to any of that) .
Sure you could get the same thing if you pulled the cable(s) off when not running, but the chances are greater if running. Plus, the negative cable is what you take off the B+ first.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 7:43 pm

joke of the day: what does a truck mechanic and his forman have to do with a chevy beretta? ans. nothing!

GTZ&IROC-Z · Post by **GTZ&IROC-Z** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 10:27 pm

(red92gt @ Dec. 28 2005,18:43)Q
U
O
T
Ejoke of the day: what does a truck mechanic and his forman have to do with a chevy beretta? ans. nothing!
when the truck mechanic and his foreman both have berettas of their own and is very knowledgable on the ins and outs on this stuff, I would say a little more than you

IsaacHayes · Post by **IsaacHayes** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 2:42 pm

It's easy to test the battery and alternator if you have a voltmeter

First start the car, and measure the voltage at the battery, if its ~13.8 then the alternator is charging. If not, then it's bad.

If it is charging, then perhasp the battery is bad. Most auto parts stores will test both your battery and alternator for free. They don't remove your alt to test, but maybe you have to bring the battery inside....

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