Ok, I recently aquired a 1988 Toyoya Corolla 4door 5speed manual with 98k miles on it. It ran great and gets around 38 mpg. A week ago, the radio cut off while driving, and the car wouldnt start once it had been stopped. We push started several times on the way home, but the alternator seems to be dead as well, as the battery would not recharge. We got a new battery, and the car started fine. The next day, the car wouldnt start again, dead battery. What do you guys think is draining the battery? and how much should I expect to pay for a new alternator? Pep-boys quoted 220 for parts and labor, sound reasonable?
As for car specs, im not sure, but I think it's the 1.6 liter. there are no designation letters, the back just says "corolla"
Youre right its the alternator needs to be changed. 220 is pretty expensive. Just buy the alternator and do it yourself. Just remove two bolts and the alternator is off. But remove the positive wire first from your batt. It should be a easy fix.
but is that what's causing the drain on the battery?
Well the engine runs not only because it has a fuel but because there is something that is igniting the air-fuel mixture. Now if something is igniting the mixture what would that thing need? Definitely the ignition needs electrical energy to create a spark to ignite the air-fuel mixture ok? Now how can a battery be recharged if your alternator is not recharging it?
Whenever the engine is running, the engine gets electrical energy to ignite fuel from the battery and the battery is prevented from being drained by the alternator. Got it??!
If your alternator is bad, then that is why you're battery is dead, and also why the car is dieing when driven. $220 is very expensive. I bought a new alternator for a little under $100 and installed it myself in about an hour.
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If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough- Mario Andretti
Its not how fast your car goes...its how much nerve the driver has to push it that fast.
Are you sure it drained while sitting there, and not while driven? If so, then maybe you have something running when the car is off.... Maybe a bad switch or wiring that leaves something on. I would get the alternator and battery checked at a car store if you can make it that far. Places that will do it for free that I know of are Autozone, Pepboys, Napa Auto Parts, Advanced Auto Parts, and O'Reilly Auto Parts. Not sure, but other places will probably check it for free. If it's not your alternator, and it's not your battery( i'm assuming it's fine since it's new) then you're going to have a hard time finding the problem. Gotta make sure those two are fine first before you go about trying to find anything else wrong.
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If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough- Mario Andretti
Its not how fast your car goes...its how much nerve the driver has to push it that fast.
look and see if your brake lights are on with the car shut off and lights not on. My corolla did that one to me once and it turned out the brake pedal switch was shorted out. If this is happening reach up under the dash where the brake pedal is and disconnect the switch. the brake lights should go out. As for bad alternators once you get it out take it apart in the rear and replace parts. call local starter and alternator shops for parts. i rebuilt mine for $15.
Turn off a the ignition switch and disconnect + side of the battery (be sure the battery is not dead). Place the + terminal back and listen for a "tick" sound or look for a spark. If there is a spark or a 'tick' sound then there is something that is always on, take it to an electrical shop.
Hey bob022004, how hard was it for you to rebuild your alternator? I'm sure eventually I'll burn out my new alternator because of my sound system, and although I've upgraded the big 3, I just don't want to put down the money for a high output alternator.... Did you have any experience before you rebuilt yours? Also, how many times could you rebuild your alternator without lowering the output? Thanks.
__________________
If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough- Mario Andretti
Its not how fast your car goes...its how much nerve the driver has to push it that fast.
It was indeed the alternator, they ended up charging a little over 300 at pep-boys, adding on new battery terminals and blah blah, thankfully the guy who reccomended the car picked up the bill.
no, my girlfriends mom's boyfriend found the car for 2000$ and actually bought it for us, then when the alternator went, he paid for the replace. It's a great car.
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was he the one that also sold you the car??
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