|
What you describe might be the alternator, might be a dynig battery, or a combination.
The job of the battery is to store electricity in order to start the car. Period.
The job of the alternator is to run everything the car needs, plus to re-charge the battery after it has used some of the stored electricity. (Simplistic view)
If the alternator looses the ability to produce enough electricity to do it's job, the battery will try - but usually won't last very long. Especially if the headlights are required.
So the problem is the alternator - it's not charging like it should. Why?
Check this: Look at the back side of the alternator, there are three wires connected there (unless your brick is 1981 or older, you didn't say).
The fat red one, leave alone. The thin blue or black one, hard to see and seldom goes bad. It's the thin red one that goes bad. Wiggle the connection to be sure it is good and solid.
Note the little housing on the back of the alternator. It contains the voltage regulator and the brushes. Brushes wear down over time, and after 100,000 miles of so they are often too short to work properly.
Changed them lately? Part from fcpgroton, a DIY job.
Check the tension of the drive belts, too. Push down half between alternator and water pump. Belt going easily down over 1/2 inch is too loose.
Don't blow a $ on an alternator until some of these are checked out. See if you can get a free test at a place like AutoZone.
Good Luck,
Bob
:>)
|
