I kept up every service schedule appointment with my Honda dealer, long after the warranty expired. During routine service, they would periodically tell me that the car needed a new battery (every year or two). I never thought too much about it, figuring the hot humid Florida weather must take a toll on car batteries. About six months ago, I paid about $300 for milestone service (50,000 miles, I think). They didn't sell me a new battery, since the one I had in there was only a year old. Three weeks later I was stranded on the shoulder of the road with A DEAD ALTERNATOR. I had the car towed to Sears (it was late Saturday afternoon, naturally!), and those competent guys put in a new alternator and a darned good battery. All seems to be A-OK. QUESTION: When they hook my car up to their diagnostic machine, does it indicate whether or not the alternator is defective? SEGUE: Yesterday, I received a call from a young lady (name starts with M) at the Sun Honda Dealer. M wants to schedule the car for maintenance. I tell her I don't like the service department and I now take the car elsewhere. In fact, I tell her about the recent unpleasantness of being stranded alongside the road, three weeks after plunking down $300 for service. I also mention that though I LOVE THIS CAR, I will buying a Toyota from the dealer next door, because, what's the point? I mean, a dealership is only as good as its service department, right? M promises to make a note in the file and I make a mental note to find out who the owner is, write him a letter and copy that letter to Honda. The phone just rang (today, a few minutes ago). It was M, calling me to schedule service for my Honda at the SAME Sarasota Dealer. LOL.

 

Ok?

And yes you can test if the alternator is good or not by seeing if it's output is good (something like 12V and the current I've forgotten) to recharge the battery.

So your entire post seems to be way too cluttered for what you are asking?

A bad alternator would prevent the car from running. And it wouldn't charge the battery so the battery could die. As to the dealership selling you batteries, you were the person continually buying them, the dealership is out to make money and if you're spending it they'll sell to you.

And I honestly don't think anyone is concerned with you buying a Toyota, a car is a car and will have the same problems.

 

Thanks muffin man. So, they must've had a clue that the alternator was bad and they just kept selling me batteries? That really stinks! (Especially the part about me paying $300 for service, and three weeks later me being stranded with a dead battery and a defunct alternator.) Yup, I like words.