My buddies gf has a 99 ex coupe...everytime she turns her car off, goes and does what she needs to do, comes back to the car and tries to start it, its dead...but the dome light turns on, and stuff like that...so i know the battery is not dead, and i think its the alternator...any help would be wonderful!!!

 

Bump

 

if the lights are dim than its most likely the altenator

 

Sounds good...anyone else have an opinion?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jspresso &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if the lights are dim than its most likely the altenator </TD></TR></TABLE>

 

i would look into the alarm...if she has one. My car did that once, my alarm brain fucked up and wouldnt let me start my ****! just an idea so you know.

 

so when its "dead" how do you get it to start? jump it?

To test this... start the car, pull the negative terminal off the battery, car should still run... if it doesnt, your alternator is probably bad because its not charging or doing anything

 

1. battery
2. alternator
3. start-motor - i don't think this is the case since it's a 99.

 

Well we jump it to start it when its "dead"...when it is "dead" the lights are dim and such...ill try pullin the negative terminal while its running, i still think its the alternater

 

if your lights are dim the battery ix fux0red.

your alternator isnt running your electrics when the motor is off.

 

Check and make sure that the positive battery terminal has a good connection, i've had this problem on a couple of cars, could be that there is corrosion build up or that the positive cable isnt on tight enough at the battery or possibly the solenoid.

Good Luck,
-Mark-

 

Its not the alternator if she can drive her car for any period of time. If it was the alternator it would be running off of noithing but the battery and the car would die very quickly, and when she shut the car off there would be hardly any charge. If the battery has a bad cell it wouldn't be able to start the car but it would still have enough "juice" to run the accessories. Get the battery tested and If that's not the problem then you have to think is the relay cliking over, is it trying to start, to the domelights dim when I try to start the car, alarm off(was menchioned by someone else), and so on and so on.

 

When engine is off, electronics run off battery. When engine is running, electronics run off alternator. You can actually disconect battery while engine is running. Since the job of the alternator is like a generator that generates power in form of electricity. It alternates AC current into DC.

Try this simpler method first. Next time you get engine running, turn headlights on. If it's dim, rev' the engine and see if the light gets brighter. If it does, your alternator is good. Replace the battery.

The other way to test this method by the numbers is to take a multimeter and set it to 12v DC. Test battery with engine off. Should read relatively close to 12v. When engine is running, test battery again. At idle, voltage should read around 13.8-14.4. If so, alternator is good, especially if the numbers increase as you rev' the engine.

NOTE: Battery light should turn on for either a bad battery or a bad alternator. Also, tell your homeboy's G/F to stop bumpin' tha system for long periods of time with the engine off.

 

nice follow up, what he said

 

What about this....

If you turn on the car, no electronics on, then disconnect the battery, car still runs... If you have the lights on, fan on, radio on, the car dies when disconnected.

Also, if you start the car with the lights on, they dim, and get bright.

Brand new battery as well.

edit: Just put on new belts/tightened, etc..

The above is what i am dealing with.