Pleasse Help!! Crazy dash lights and speedometer

[BOOSTn20psi]

My car has been sitting out for about 4 months with the alarm LED flashing lights on. Today, I decided to take the car out for a drive and the battery was dead because of the LED. So, I jump started the car and now its running. The brake and SRS warning lid up follow by the Anti-lock. Everytime I use the signal light to turn, the stereo would cut off for 2 second. Later, RPM started jumping around and speedometer would just stop working. Suddenly lights started dimming in the middle of the night................NIGHTMARE ON MY STREET began. I had to safely ran couple of stop lights to make it home.

Next day, car starts out fine but its doing it again.

Someone out there "PLEASE HELP", Freddy's out to get my DSM.

 

[JKGMotosports]

Sounds like an alternator problem, check if your alternator is charging. If it's not check your 100A fuse in your fuse box to see if it is toast. If that doesn't work your alternator just took a shit. I would buy a new battery and new alternator at that point. I had my car for 5 years and went through 5 alternators .

 

[BOOSTn20psi]

WoW, so it must be my alternator then. I just had it replace 25k miles ago.
Is this something easy to do?

 

[Enki]

That's what my car was doing when my alternator was about to die a year ago. I had it rebuilt at a local shop and it's been running fine since.

 

[JKGMotosports]

Yeah its not hard at all to do, have a good manual and go for it. Takes me 15 minutes to do.

 

[BOOSTn20psi]

thanks guys, I'll try doing it.

 

[TOAORM]

BTW your led light did not drain your battery. Having your battery hooked up for months and not ever chargin it during that time will contribute to what you are experiencing. Next time you have your car set for over a month or so, unplug the batery.

Also, you can not just take a completely dead battery and start driving it around or you are looking to overwork your alternator. So, inturn, because your battery was completely dead, and you just drove it around, you may have to replace them both. Your best bet is to have the battery recharged at a parts store and then try it. If that does not work, have the alternator tested.

 

[JKGMotosports]

BTW your led light did not drain your battery. Having your battery hooked up for months and not ever chargin it during that time will contribute to what you are experiencing. Next time you have your car set for over a month or so, unplug the batery.

Also, you can not just take a completely dead battery and start driving it around or you are looking to overwork your alternator. So, inturn, because your battery was completely dead, and you just drove it around, you may have to replace them both. Your best bet is to have the battery recharged at a parts store and then try it. If that does not work, have the alternator tested.

I agree with this statement. Another thing is if you want to store your car for a few months drain the oil that way you wont get gunk in your engine. If you are going to store it for over 6 months, drain the fuel as well. Just a tip. The part that is dying on your alternator is the regulator, if the regulator is overcharging, your alternator will evenually just kill itself. Or if its undercharging, your alternator will die from not pumping enough juice. I would just get your battery and alternator tested with a VOLT meter. But I experienced your symthoms 5 times already and everytime my alternator went to hell.

 

[JKGMotosports]

Another thing I recommend for people that go through alternators like fuses is to get a ground kit. This really improves your lighting and reduces the chance of your alternator dieing. So far I've had the ground kit for over a year and my alternator is still running like new. Another thing is don't get your existed alternator rebuilt by a alternator shop. I noticed everytime I got it rebuilt by a shop, the damn thing wouldn't even last a few months. So get a rebuild from the factory, or if you can get a brandnew one for a good deal go for it. Mitsu wants $250 USD, however, your alternator will last a very long time because they are built well.

 

[BOOSTn20psi]

So, I checked at battery = 11.6V and when the car is running the battery drops to like 8.4V. I tested at the alternator and was 8V.

Voltage is dropping dramatically when car is running. Is this the sign of new alternator. I think the battery is still ok, since it still holds at 11.6V when car is off.

 

[BOOSTn20psi]

One more Question, is it still safe to drive it 8 miles to the shop?

Thanks

 

[TOAORM]

If i were you, I would take the battery out and alternator, and have a friend or someone drive me to the parts store to get the two tested. Most parts stores have a machine to slowly recharge your battery and also have the equip to test your alt.
And if your alt is bad, then buy one from the parts store rather than getting it rebuilt, Everyone alt that i ever bought had a lifetime warranty, so you never have to buy one again, just exchange it.

 

[JKGMotosports]

cheapest thing you do is buy a battery and if its still draining, your altnernator is no good. And have you checked your 100A fuse?

 

[BOOSTn20psi]

yeah, I checked the 100A and I even bought a new one put in. Voltage drops too fast when car is fully fired up. I am not sure about pulling the alt. out because I don't want to screw things up. Start Mart said they will install one for $149 total cost.

If there is a thread on how to, I might reconcider.

Will the motor be ok if I drive it with draining down alt.?