QuestionHi, on 6/27 I drove my car on various errands and finished after it had turned dark. I noticed my dashboard was dim and the closer to home I got, the headlights also seemed dim. Just before my house, the car just stopped dead. Neighbors pushed me into my driveway. Later that night, she started right up. So the next morning I drove to Walmart to buy a battery. They put in Battery 51-4/435CCA. I didn't look at the battery. Drove home fine. On July 3rd, I went grocery shopping and errands and came home in dark and car quit on my street and was pushed into my driveway. Now I'm thinking maybe not the battery but maybe the alternator or voltage
regulator. So I figure I can at least drive it in the daytime until I can afford whatever. So, today, July 5, I go to start my car and it does. I warm it up and drive to the end of my street when it stops dead. My son comes to jump it and we've got the hood up when I get a chance to really look at the battery. It is very small and wiggles in its place. I'm thinking the wrong battery has been put in my car to the tune of $56.84. Can you tell me if I'm right? Shouldn't the battery fit snugly in its place? I know we're talking about an old car but she has a strong engine and I've taken good care of her, although she is due for an oil change.She has approximately 155,000 miles and is a 4 cylinder, 2.0 something or other, I think 2.0 engine? Thanks for any help you can give me. I'm pretty used to getting ripped off but it still galls me. Patty Q
AnswerHi Patty,
Don't judge a book by it's cover. The stats you provided tell me your new battery has a Cold-Cranking-Amp rating of 435. Your four cylinder, at 50 degree below zero still won't require more than about 80 amps to start the engine so even at zero degrees centigrade (which is when the power rating of your battery is determined) that battery should still have more than 400 amps in reserve. So you can really rule out that you got the wrong battery. Now it is true that the bigger the battery the more storage capacity which means the battery will take you further than a smaller one just on it's reserve power alone but yours seems to be ok if you are able to drive even a few miles at night.
Your vehicle uses an alternator with an internal regulator so the entire item will have to be replaced as an assembly. I would bet that the alternator is bad.
Easy way to test it. Get a long, flat-head screw driver and start the engine. Place the flat end of the screw driver about a millimeter or two away from the rear, center bearing of the alternator. If the alternator magnetically attracts the screw driver to itself and you have a difficult time getting it off, the alternator is working and your problem lies elsewhere. I'm betting you'll find no magnetic field on that dead component.
Always here to help so you don't get taken.
Looking for a reputable service technician? My advice on finding a good technician is: Steer clear of the dealership and 'chain' stores like Firestone, Sears, Pep Boys, Monro Muffler/Brake, Midas, etc. as they usually only employ ONE ASE Certified Tech just so they can say they do and chances are, that guy is the asst. manager or manager and is not in the store to diagnose/repair vehicles anyway. Find a service location in the link below or get some names out of the yellow-pages and do a drive-by. Garages that employ ASE Certified Technicians will be marked with the 'Blue-Seal' insignia. If unsure about whether a place employs Certified Techs, just ask to see their credentials. ALL ASE Certified Technicians will be PROUD to show and display their certificate(s).
Thanks for the question, I hope this information was helpful to you.
Fred
Knucklebusters Used Auto & Truck Parts, Inc.
www.knucklebusters.us
570-453-0910
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