I got my Christmas lights…

[kwren]

Yes, I got my Christmas lights… The day after Christmas!

Driving south on 167 after taking my wife to work my ABS warning light came on. I immediately checked to see if I had brakes, I did! The light went out quickly. A mile or so later I am off the freeway and headed to Costco to get some stuff. Sitting in a row of traffic, I noticed had NO power steering. While I was sitting there waiting for the traffic to move, Power steering returned. Not sure about that one. Engine was running all the time.

I always drive with everything on…The radio, the headlights on bright; the heater-air-conditioned turned on and set to 71.

Washington state, windshield wipers usually on. Today with snow all over the place, rear defrost, heated mirrors turned on. Next my Christmas tree lights pretty much all came on.

I turned everything off except the engine and then all the Christmas tree lights all went off. .

I was a few blocks from Costco and pulled in there and parked. It was cold, we actually have snow all over the place, and rainy of course. I left the engine running, raised the hood and got the dc voltmeter out of the trunk and hooked it up to the battery. I set it up under the hood with the hood open and peering through the windshield with the motor running I could read the digital information.

With nothing on but engine running, my voltage output was about 12 Volts- not enough. I started turning things on one at a time and carefully monitored the Voltage output. With each additional accessory the voltage kept dropping and finally got down to 8 volts with all the accessories back on.

Increasing the rpm did not bring it back up.

I turned the engine off and tried to restart it. The battery was dead.

It was getting about the middle of the afternoon and my wife works 30 miles away till midnight. I am always the way she gets home. I have no help and no one to call on to get me out of this mess.

My alternator has a lifetime guarantee. I can get a replacement about 20 miles away, but my car won’t start or run.

My battery is Costco and has a 3 year guarantee and is in warranty.. I am at Costco!

I go in and buy another battery, install it in the rain, return the old one and now I am on my way to get an alternator. 20 miles later with NO accessories on, I get there and still have enough juice in the battery to get me home. Another 12 miles and I am home replacing the alternator. Unheated garage, but timing it right the heat from the engine kept me just right!

After replacing the alternator, the car started right up. If it hadn’t, I had time to put a charger on it.

Things could not have worked out better! I could have been in a heap of trouble if that happened even a block away from Costco. I could call AAA but that wouldn't get my new battery, my replacement alternator, and get me home to put it together to pick up my wife miles away at midnight.

Isn’t Gods timing fantastic. That is why in many of my posts, I say “We Pray a lot”

Take care,
Keith

[Subix]

Glad it worked out for you!

I was on my way to work and traffic was backed up... it took me 3 1/2 hours. 2 hours into it I started hearing whining and my lights were dimming... then , as you said, Christmas lights started to display. It was already 8pm and I was worried I wouldn't even make it to the gas station.... gas light coming on, lights on because it's dark... and everything flipping out in the car.

The radio at one point started to short circuit and buzz weird tones through the speakers until I hit the gas enough to keep it going. (it was off to keep drain down) Finally getting to a gas station, I revved it for a few minutes and shut it off. Took a nap because traffic was going literally no where.

Thankfully it chugged over a few times and seem to have started right back up. I was on my way to work and keeping at a steady 40mph, so everything seemed normal again.

I've yet to take it to autozone to get a fake diagnosis on both the battery/alternator but I'm sure it's the alty going out.

Fun stuff, winter does to your car! Yes, I blame the snow!

[pearlm30]

Hi Keith
Glad things worked out for you, it could be worst I guess.
BTW, where did you get your life time alternator? I thought most places I know(autozone, advance, napa) have bad rebuild units

[ensteele]

Keith - I am glad every thing worked out the way it did. Yes, timing is everything.

[Numbchux]

Originally Posted by pearlm30

Hi Keith
Glad things worked out for you, it could be worst I guess.
BTW, where did you get your life time alternator? I thought most places I know(autozone, advance, napa) have bad rebuild units

this is usually why they have a lifetime warranty.....terrible quality, huge markup. sure, come back and get new ones until you give up and buy something worth the $$.

[kwren]

I got mine at SCHUK'S... a part of O'Reilly Auto Parts and CSK Auto Combine to Form Third Largest Auto Parts Retailer
The combination of O’Reilly’s midwestern and southeastern foothold, along with CSK’s dominance in the western United States, will create a stronger, more competitive company that benefits not only the do-it-yourself customer, but also the professional installer.

[kwren]

I personally believe the amperage rating should be higher and will probably be working toward that goal in the near future. A higher amperage rating the components would withstand the heat better and heat is the culprit.

I don't think they have the capability or the inclination to make an alternator that has an intentional built in design for failure and guarantee it for a lifetime. Mine worked great for 40,000 miles.

Not with the deliberate hope that they someday have to "give" away another free one... and another free one... and another free one.

They simply asked what my phone # was and pulled it up on the computer and said I get another one.

Higher amperage alternators are available and the information is on this form.

Thanks to the whoever (can't remember right now) provided that information for us!

Have a great New Year everyone!!

Keith

[kwren]

Originally Posted by Numbchux

this is usually why they have a lifetime warranty.....terrible quality, huge markup. sure, come back and get new ones until you give up and buy something worth the $$.

SHUCK'S gives a lifetime warranty on all their alternators.

Can't be a Bait and switch thing.

I certainly understand your skepticism! We live in that kind of world. We all have 2 lists... One for businesses that treat us fairly... another for the ones that don't.

Unfortunately the "Don't list" is by far the longest list

Take care,
Keith

[kwren]

NAPA pasts is also on my good list.

A few months after I got my first SVX the starter went out.
It was on the car when I bought the car and I took it off to save having to pay a core charge and found one at NAPA.

I went over and the starter had a label with their part # on it.

That particular part had a one year warranty they gave me a new one. So now my "free" starter has a lifetime guarantee on it.

NAPA is a good company and like I said... We pray a lot!

Keith

[SVX JAZZ]

Hmmmm... Mine is doing something a little different. At stop lights after I have been on the road for a while the "Christmas Lights" appear and disappear. I also notice the rpms slightly drop when the “Christmas Lights” come on. Its almost rhythmic. Also ive noticed when I first crank my car that there is a squeaking from under the hood then it gets quiet. I think something odd is happening with my alternator.

And yes, I pray allot as well.

[oab_au]

Originally Posted by SVX JAZZ

Hmmmm... Mine is doing something a little different. At stop lights after I have been on the road for a while the "Christmas Lights" appear and disappear. I also notice the rpms slightly drop when the “Christmas Lights” come on. Its almost rhythmic. Also ive noticed when I first crank my car that there is a squeaking from under the hood then it gets quiet. I think something odd is happening with my alternator.

And yes, I pray allot as well.

Tighten the alternator belt, and see how it is then.

Harvey.

[kwren]

Originally Posted by oab_au

Tighten the alternator belt, and see how it is then.

Harvey.

True Harvey!
Everything is "out of kilter" if the fundamental things are not correct! Here's hoping (and praying) it was that easy a fix. My opinion would be unlikely because of the history of the beast

I check the adjustment and condition of my belts at the very least once a month. Also keep them relative new.

But I have been accused of "overkill"

Happy new year everyone!!

Keith

[SVX JAZZ]

Originally Posted by oab_au

Tighten the alternator belt, and see how it is then.

Harvey.

Yep, thats it. My belt is bad too. Small cracks in it. I've been so busy with Christmas and work projects that I haven't really stuck my head under the hood in a while. Goodness...

Thanks for the post...

[kwren]

Originally Posted by SVX JAZZ

And yes, I pray allot as well.

Noticed you are "Incredibly blessed!"

That explains it!

Keith

[SVX JAZZ]

Originally Posted by kwren

Noticed you are "Incredibly blessed!"

That explains it!

Keith

Yes I truly am and in so many ways! Glad you started this post about your lights. I had been noticing mine for a while but hadn't really done anything about it. Now I have an answer.

Take care and God bless.