dead battery

[austyfrosty]

went outside this morning to go to work and my car turned over slow..didn't think much of it until i went to leave for work then and the battery was dead. had to push start it to get it back to my apartment. checked out the alternator voltage with a multimeter and it was only reading 10.5 volts at the battery and the same 10.5 volts right at the alternator when running. it should be right around 14.0-14.7 volts it said according to the Haynes manual. at the alternator with the key on but not running it had 12 volts on the B+. i also seemed to hear a weird noise coming from the alternator. so i think a trip to autozone to get a new alternator is in store.

[packrat427]

Yep , sounds like a brush maybe came apart making noise .
Sounds like it is hardly putting anything out .

Any updated news yet ??

[monkeyracing]

Yup, alternators are wear and tear parts. Is the Festy alternator rebuildable?

[WmWatt]

Most of the electrical parts on the Festiva are made by Mitsubishi. As I recall the original alternator on my '89 is one of theirs. Cheapest solution at the time was a rebuild at an auto electronics shop but for lack of transportation I called around and got one delivered from a wrecker for $75. It has been good for some years now. One thing to watch fro when installing a replacement is not to tighten the belt too much because that will burn out the bearings. The Haynes manual gives the belt deflection which I measure by laying a steel ruler across the pulleys and pressing down on the belt in the middle with the end of another ruler.

[austyfrosty]

got a new one put on last night and all seems to be working well. i only had to push start my car 4 times yesterday though haha. i think it has been going bad for awhile and finally just went. just one of those things that wears out though.

[packrat427]

Glad you got it fixed

I need to get a back up, you never know :lol:

I keep a new extra fuel pump and coil in the car all the time , and now I will have a spare water pump pulley . :lol:

[Damkid]

the only things i keep in my car for "just in case" is a good sized tool kit, in that kit i'd have enough tools to pull the engine

[Axlander9289]

got a new one put on last night and all seems to be working well. i only had to push start my car 4 times yesterday though haha. i think it has been going bad for awhile and finally just went. just one of those things that wears out though.

If you don't mind me asking, what did the new alternator run you? The reason I ask is, I work at a Ford dealership, and when my boss heard I had bought a Festiva he had the parts guy look up the price on the alternator just for laughs.

It was $600 for the part alone.

I hope this isn't the case at all Festiva parts sources, and that reasonably priced alternators are available elsewhere. My alternator is ok, but if I ever do need one I don't want to have to pay $600 for it.

[25Horseplay]

My last alternator was $89 I believe at Autozone.

[austyfrosty]

it was a 100.99 with a 52.00 core. lifetime warranty

[GenevaDirt]

My new alternator was $10.00 and no core charge at Seth....lol

[smokin fastiva]

alternators at the junkyard here are 9.99