So yesterday as I was coming home from work, I was stuck behind some slowmo and beeped my horn.  Instead of the typical high pitch Japanese "beep", I get this low buzzed out honk...

Shit I look at my DRL indicator and it's rather dim.  I shut of my radio and it can't come back on...

GREAT, my charging system isn't working again!!!

I just had the alternator replace a few weeks ago!  So in a panic I drive back to my mechanic and tell them what's wrong.  They hook up a batter tester and see that there is no charging going on at all.  By then it's almost 6:00PM and it's too late to do anything.  My Sidekick stays overnight so they can work on it today.

I get back from work later today and this is what they tell me:

It turns out that the battery was causing the alternator to malfunction.  They put on another alternator and again no charge.  :-/

They replace the battery and suddenly it's working great again.  I also had the fan belt replaced because it was really frayed along the edges.

So there goes another $240...and $240 from last time too...  This is really hurting me in the wallet.  

What do you guys think about this...I can't help but feel swindled.

If it happens again within a year, I'm buying my own alternator and doing it myself.

Alternators aren't that hard to swap if it happens again (shouldn't, with the new battery and all).

Sucks about your batt. killing two alts

Alternators aren't that hard to swap if it happens again (shouldn't, with the new battery and all).

Sucks about your batt. killing two alts

So it's possible for a battery to do that?

You got a good deal my alt. was over $300.00  :oand i had to put it in myself. mine might have got wet once or even a few times. I now have spares   whole kicks are cheaper then just the alt.

AutoZone list a X90 alternator for $114, Tracks are the same under the hood so yours would be the same i think.
Batteries for under $50 so you could definately save some cash doing this your self and alternator swaps are pretty easy.

WTF?? You have to be kiding me. A battery causing your alt. to crap out :-/ You've been going to a dealership havent you? 240 for a belt and a battery, yep, sounds like a dealership to me.

1st- if your having a charging system problem and half assed mechanic will check the battery for a dead cell BEFORE replacing the Alt.

2nd- if the Alt replacement does not fix the charging problem, the alt did not break the battery, it was a peice of crap alt in the first place.

Sorry dude but your getting screwed by your mechanic.

Zig

So it's possible for a battery to do that?

If the battery was shorting out inside.  The alternator would be on perma charge at max load, essentially burning it up.

Any descent auto electical business would have noticed that condition right away by the load on the alternator and charge indicator.

Sorry to hear about your problem.

Good luck!
~Nate

Any descent auto electical business would have noticed that condition right away by the load on the alternator and charge indicator.

exactly, plus if they didnt charge the battery before starting it, and just jump started it, a lot of load is on the alternator, so it's possible thats what killed it

nevertheless; its very easy to change yourself, doesnt even take an hour for the alternator, a few mins for the battery i'd guess

Andrew

Im an auto mech for a living. I hate these discussions cause everybody always thinks we are the bad guys. Thats cause nobody ever wants to spend money on maintenence... not even me. However, any good mech would have tested that battery before installing an alt. It even has warning labels on most Alt boxes. This should have been cought on the frontside. Also, besure it wasnt a NAPA alt. They go out so often we now refuse to install them.  The  price of 240 installed doesnt sound terribly expensive to me. Sure you could have done it cheaper yourself but that a whole different animal all togather.

Mike

i had someone install a altenater and a new battery once well two days later driven down the road and everything goes rong! well i pooped the hood and what do i find a loose wire, the lesson is dont let some jackass do your work, cause all they care about is "turn and burm"!

the problwm isnt mechanics! its shop owners!

holy crap! 240 bucks for that? ouch, I refuse to take my vehicle into any shop... all the work Ive done on all of the vehicles Ive owned is done by my self, I guess to some people some of the stuff isnt as strait forward as it is to me .. but man if I charged as much as some mechanic shops do to fix peoples vehicles Id be set.... my gf's dad brought her truck to the shop the other day.. because it had an acceleration problem, turned out to be plug wires... and that was 130$ in labour ... I mean that woulda taken me at the most 20 minutes to figure out and I have 4 sets of plug wires sittin right here

Any descent auto electical business would have noticed that condition right away by the load on the alternator and charge indicator.

Yea that's what I meant to say put nicely  Not all mechanics do shit like that, BUT MOST DEALERSHIPS DO!!!!!! 90% of dealings I have heard of with dealerships are way over priced bad service that has to be taken back time and time again. That or you go in for a dead battery and end up getting a phone call with 20 other items that 'MUST' be done.  

Zig

Dang, I just had to replace the alternator on my 4-door - but that was about $70, total.

Then, the Optima Red-top went out on my 2-door!  Free replacement!  (Love that warranty!)