First, let me say that I know many a thread has been devoted to various electrical problems. I've read them all and none of them match my situation or give me the information I need.
1. Three months ago, my battery light came on and the car died within a minute. I had to coast into a parking lot.
2. Swapped out the four year old battery [I know, I know] with a brand new one. Battery light came on, but was able to get the car home. Had a mechanic come over with a load tester and wasn't getting a charge from the alternator.
3. I let the car sit until three weeks ago and drove my other one as it is winter and, frankly, I didn't feel like messing with the BS.
4. Three weeks ago, I have another mechanic come over to check out the Legend. He installs a new battery. [I had given the other one to a family member who needed it more.] He does a load test on the alternator and everything checks out.
5. I drove the car for about two weeks without issue and then the battery light popped on and then off. Parked the car, checked all the connections and figured maybe it was a fluke.
6. Half way home, the battery light and ABS light come on. The ABS light goes off immediately, but the battery light stays on.
7. The battery light only stayed on if I was traveling less than 25-30mph or if I was braking. Any bit of acceleration or keeping a constant speed above about 30mph and the battery light would not come on.
8. Went to take the car out a few days ago and the battery light and ABS light are on at startup, but go off when I start to drive. However, this time, the battery light won't go off unless I'm under 40mph. So, that speed threshold is getting higher.
9. The only oddity that I've noticed is that there is no dimming whatsoever of interior or exterior lights when the battery light is on now. Yet, the load test says the alternator is definitely not charging.
Sorry for the long post, but is this a clear indication that the bearing [or whatever] is going out in the alternator?
The only reason I'm hesitating on ordering the part and having it replaced is that I don't understand how it could be fine for two weeks after dying on me and then die again. Or is that common if you let a dead alternator sit for a while that it'll be able to work fine again for a short amount of time?
I'm just at a complete loss.
Some things to note, because I know some of you might ask based on the other threads:
1. I have nothing but OEM equipment on the car. No amps, no newer stereo, no rice-accessories-so-my-car-glows-kewlies. Nada. What's on it is how it came from the dealership new.
2. I've had a regular mechanic and a mechanic specializing in car electronics come over to make sure that there's nothing drawing a huge amount of power when the car is off. Only the security system, which is minimal.
3. I never have an issue with the car starting.
4. The battery has been tested thoroughly to make sure it is not bad.
5. Both mechanics have tested all the connections. They both think it's either a bearing going bad or the voltage regulator is dying.
Any ideas, guys?
I split my time between the east coast and the mid west and I have a trip out to southern Indiana I have to make here in about a month. I'd like to have my baby with me!
Thanks, in advance!
1. Three months ago, my battery light came on and the car died within a minute. I had to coast into a parking lot.
2. Swapped out the four year old battery [I know, I know] with a brand new one. Battery light came on, but was able to get the car home. Had a mechanic come over with a load tester and wasn't getting a charge from the alternator.
3. I let the car sit until three weeks ago and drove my other one as it is winter and, frankly, I didn't feel like messing with the BS.
4. Three weeks ago, I have another mechanic come over to check out the Legend. He installs a new battery. [I had given the other one to a family member who needed it more.] He does a load test on the alternator and everything checks out.
5. I drove the car for about two weeks without issue and then the battery light popped on and then off. Parked the car, checked all the connections and figured maybe it was a fluke.
6. Half way home, the battery light and ABS light come on. The ABS light goes off immediately, but the battery light stays on.
7. The battery light only stayed on if I was traveling less than 25-30mph or if I was braking. Any bit of acceleration or keeping a constant speed above about 30mph and the battery light would not come on.
8. Went to take the car out a few days ago and the battery light and ABS light are on at startup, but go off when I start to drive. However, this time, the battery light won't go off unless I'm under 40mph. So, that speed threshold is getting higher.
9. The only oddity that I've noticed is that there is no dimming whatsoever of interior or exterior lights when the battery light is on now. Yet, the load test says the alternator is definitely not charging.
Sorry for the long post, but is this a clear indication that the bearing [or whatever] is going out in the alternator?
The only reason I'm hesitating on ordering the part and having it replaced is that I don't understand how it could be fine for two weeks after dying on me and then die again. Or is that common if you let a dead alternator sit for a while that it'll be able to work fine again for a short amount of time?
I'm just at a complete loss.
Some things to note, because I know some of you might ask based on the other threads:
1. I have nothing but OEM equipment on the car. No amps, no newer stereo, no rice-accessories-so-my-car-glows-kewlies. Nada. What's on it is how it came from the dealership new.
2. I've had a regular mechanic and a mechanic specializing in car electronics come over to make sure that there's nothing drawing a huge amount of power when the car is off. Only the security system, which is minimal.
3. I never have an issue with the car starting.
4. The battery has been tested thoroughly to make sure it is not bad.
5. Both mechanics have tested all the connections. They both think it's either a bearing going bad or the voltage regulator is dying.
Any ideas, guys?
I split my time between the east coast and the mid west and I have a trip out to southern Indiana I have to make here in about a month. I'd like to have my baby with me!
Thanks, in advance!