I was driving down the road yesterday and my radio cut off. I pulled into a golf course, parked, and turned my car off. I went inside to talk to my golf coach and when I came back out, my car was dead. My coach jumped me and everything was fine. About 2 minutes later, the radio cut off again and so did my clock. My turn signals were barely blinking and same with my flashers. When I hit the gas it felt like it had no power and was trying really hard to pull... I think my alternator has gone bad. Anything you guys know about this that I don't or am I right?
I HAVE NO POWER!!! (alternator problem)
- Thread starter bmccreery
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
TheBlueWave
New member
That's what it sounds like to me, or else your battery is dead. Cars get all the electricity they need (including for spark) from the battery, which is constantly recharged by the alternator. I would check the battery first, then the alternator. See if you can find a multimeter.
AmbideXtrous
New member
I'd bet my first-born that it is your alternator. A year ago I had this happen to me. All the dashlights when on, lost power, pulled over and it died. Waited a few minutes and then it started right up. but 5 minutes later did the same thing.
Took it to the dealership and they verified the bad alternator and said that they just "go bad" sometimes. They replaced it and I picked it up. By the time I got home it happened all over again. Dashlights, no power, dead. Limped it back to the dealership a few days later and had them do a thorough exam looking for a bare wire that was causing a short. Eventually they found that a critter had made a nest up next to the exhaust manifold and had chewed through the insulation on a wire and it was grounding to the block.
They replaced the alternator again at their expense, which they really didn't have to do, and I have had no problems since.
A battery charger is your best friend right now. As long as the battery has juice, you'll go. Charge it before you head to the dealership or wherever.
Took it to the dealership and they verified the bad alternator and said that they just "go bad" sometimes. They replaced it and I picked it up. By the time I got home it happened all over again. Dashlights, no power, dead. Limped it back to the dealership a few days later and had them do a thorough exam looking for a bare wire that was causing a short. Eventually they found that a critter had made a nest up next to the exhaust manifold and had chewed through the insulation on a wire and it was grounding to the block.
They replaced the alternator again at their expense, which they really didn't have to do, and I have had no problems since.
A battery charger is your best friend right now. As long as the battery has juice, you'll go. Charge it before you head to the dealership or wherever.
bak3rme
Senior Member
didnt want to make a new thread so if someone can help me out. it seems i have the same problem but it happened 3x already only when i park. i take the key out and everything dies. can't turn on my lights, can't lock the door. i'll put the key in and turn everything to on but nothign turns on. i couldn't even start the car a couple times. then after maybe the 5th try everything comes on and it cranks. just wanting to know if its battery or alternator. if it was the battery being disconnected wouldn't everything reset? like ur Odmometer would read how many total miles and trip A and B would be zero..but it doesnt do that
ilovethedealer
New member
after being a toyota tech for 10 years i may replace an alternator maybe twice a year, not a very comin problem at all, most replacements were on 250k+ veh. sounds like you have a really dead battery. your going to have to replace your battery anyway after it has been drained so many times, they only have so many life cycles. i would be very supprised if it was the alternator but you never know
