Charging System

[Petroleum]

Sup all,

If we all remember about a month ago my car up and didn't start for about a week then it started out of no where (figured it was a hiccup in the security system). Well this past week the battery/charging system light came on and the display read: Battery No Charge. The battery was old so I went ahead and replaced it (it still read "Battery No Charge," but I figured it had to be reset) Well, that night on the way home from work the display suddenly read: Service Charging System and all the lights went dim inside the car and the engine started struggling severely. I shut off all powered accesories and put the car in first and just coasted my car for about half a mile all the way home. The cell was so dead that when I hit the brake when I got in my driveway the headlights shut completely off ( oh and about halfway through my trek the display shut off). Needless to say, the battery cell is dead and needs to be charged and the car will not start.

So, I've been reading, as all newbies should, and it seems like it could be one of these things:

1) bad/ malfunctioning alternator (I hope it's not this one, but it would explain it)

2) the accesory belt is loose (it is, but not by much; my father believes this is it)

3) bad battery connection ( I doubt it unless the wires are fouled where I can't see them)

I will charge the battery and put it back in and see if it will at least start. Then I will adjust the belt and see if it will run. Then I'll take it to Autozone and have them test the alternator. If it needs to be replaced I will let y'all know, but I would appreciate any advice. I blame it all on the DRL! lol, seriously tho', tell me if I'm going in the right direction and the caddyinfo knowledge is always welcomed.

Petrol

ps, i thought all the alternator did was turn the engine to start it? i didn't know it functioned at all times when the car was running and more importantly that it would have such a dramatic impact on the engine: i was getting no acceleration and it was not shifting gears. I am really just hoping it is the alternator and nothing SERIOUS

[Ranger]

You have it wrong. The battery starts the car. The alternator (generator) generates current to recharge the battery. When the alternator fails, the car runs off of battery power til it depletes it. As it does, the PCM starts to shed unneccassary power draws (heater, A/C, dash lights, etc). Soon the battery is no longer able to pwer the ignition and the car dies.

Check the cables closely for corrosion at the connections and under the insulation near the connections.

There is no adjustment on the belt. It is spring loaded. The tensioner is self adjusting. Make sure it has plenty of tension so the belt is not slipping. If all that is good, then it is likely that the alternator has headed south.

[KHE]

If you suspect the alternator may be bad, remove the alternator and take it to an AC Delco rebuilder. They are in most cities and will repair your alternator for much less that a chain store reman and do a QUALITY job... Trust me - regardless of any "lifetime" warranty that a chain store may offer (where you will keep changing it year after year...), the better deal is to have the existing alternator rebuilt locally.