Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Car broke down last night. Thoughts or comments?

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    Car broke down last night. Thoughts or comments?

    Alright... So a couple days ago, I was driving home from my fiance's dad's house... As I'm driving suddenly my stereo starts cutting out. It would shut off and restart itself about every 15-20 seconds. So I finally just turn it off completely and keep driving. Then I realize my headlights are no longer on. After this my turn signals stop working, as well as my tail lights and brake lights. Also, when I would turn the wheel it would make a deep whining noise, like something was wrong with the power steering. I managed to make it another 2-3 mins home and parked the car. I figured I'd look at it the next morning.

    Next morning rolls around, I walk outside, start the car... EVERYTHING works fine again. Headlights, tails, CD player, everything. It all lights up good and fine. So I figured, "Eh.. Maybe it's one of those stupid ass german car gremlins and it went away for now."

    Move to Sunday evening around 6pm. I decided I should head out and wash my car at one of those self wash places, since I live in an apartment(no I don't use the stupid brush). I made it into the wash place and the power steering starts making the weird noise again. I pull into a stall, wash the car, and go to leave. The car drives fine for about a minute and then I stop at a stoplight.

    The CD player starts dying again, and the turn signals start to lag. I keep driving, hoping I'll make it the 5-10 mins home... Make it about a mile down the road, and the lights all start to dim again. I stop at the next stoplight on the road, and the car dies out. I try to restart it, NOTHING. I tried to turn on the hazards, and they don't work. So I get out to push the car across in the intersection, as the speed limit on this road is 50mph. I get about half way through the intersection and some dumbass who isn't paying attention almost rearends my car while I'm pushing it through the intersection. It was only about 6:45 at this time, so it wasn't even dark yet, he just wasn't paying attention.

    I get the car across the intersection and call up my dad since he lives about a mile and a half away. He says he will come out to help me out. I try to start the car again, and it won't turn over... I can hear the solenoid click, but it won't start up.

    My first instinct was thinking alternator. BUT... All the lights inside the car still turn on, the car just won't start up.

    Could it be that the alternator just isn't creating enough juice for the car to start, but it will make just enough to power the inside lights?

    Any ideas? I had to have the car towed to my dad's, and until I get my car fixed I'm driving my fiance's old PURPLE 91 VW Cabriolet.

    #2
    Yeah. Its probably a mechanical problem with the alternator. That happened to me once and I had the same symptoms. Turned out that the bearings were starting to fall apart. So when removed the belt and turned the alternator by hand, it moved freely. But I decided to change it anyhow and as soon as I took it out, it locked up. So I shook it up a little bit and heard the loose pieces of metal rattling around and it started spinning freely again.

    When this first happened, you probably lost just enough voltage on the battery to drop below 10 volts but you had plenty of amps. So after the car sat for a little while it gave the battery a chance to regenerate some voltage and then the next day the car would start fine and the alternator probably freed itself from being locked until that bad bearing got jammed in the shaft again.

    Comment


      #3
      start with the easy stuff first:

      check for lose/bad grounds on the alternator and battery.

      check the brushes on the alternator (pull out the regulator - should 2 screws) to make sure they are a decent length.
      Chris
      90 Corrado/91 M3/01 M5

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by cramer View Post
        start with the easy stuff first:

        check for lose/bad grounds on the alternator and battery.

        check the brushes on the alternator (pull out the regulator - should 2 screws) to make sure they are a decent length.
        Already checked for loose/bad grounds on both.

        I will check the brushes on the alternator tomorrow. Probably won't be going to my dad's tonight.

        Comment


          #5
          I would do what cramer said, and I hate to say it... but did you check the belt?


          Originally posted by cramer View Post
          start with the easy stuff first:

          check for lose/bad grounds on the alternator and battery.

          check the brushes on the alternator (pull out the regulator - should 2 screws) to make sure they are a decent length.
          Last edited by thectrlguy; 06-04-2007, 05:54 PM.

          Comment


            #6
            ouch definately could be the t belt

            also check your crank position sensor mine went bad and i had similar symptoms when mine went

            glad to hear you made it home safely hope the car isnt too badly damaged
            Originally posted by ebelements
            Also, for those who don't know, negative camber is the greatest thing since sliced bread(panera). Even tire wear is for city busses and the elderly.

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by sticksdaman View Post
              ouch definately could be the t belt

              also check your crank position sensor mine went bad and i had similar symptoms when mine went

              glad to hear you made it home safely hope the car isnt too badly damaged
              Not the T belt, you mean V belt. Can you check for the voltage coming out of the the alt? Soulds to me like the alt is dieing and now probly dead. When the car starts to loose power like that, things tend to go slower and then stop working all together.
              Originally posted by cabriodster87
              "Honey? What color is this wire? Is it the same as that one? Are you sure? I don't believe it. OK, it works. Thank you sweetie."
              Originally posted by Kershaw
              i've got a boner and a desire to speed.

              Comment


                #8
                My car is having a somewhat similar problem. It cranks but won't turn over unless I remove one of two fuses either

                12 7.5 Radio power, Speedometer/instrument indicators, OBC, Multifunction Clock

                or

                21 7.5 Glovebox light, Flashlight, Ignition Key/Seat Belt warning,
                Interior Lights, Radio Memory, Trunk Light, Active Check Control, Service, Interval Indicator, OBC, Fuel deliveryTachometer/Fuel Economy Gauge, Digital Clock, Multi Function Clock

                If there both in at the same time the car will crank but not start, If I pull one (usually it's 21) the car will then start but none of fuse 21's systems work, I can plug twenty one in after it starts and then everythings fine until I go to re-start it. I can drive around with out the fuse and then it'll start fine.

                I'd try pulling 21 or 12 and see what happens, maybe we have a similar problem?

                Comment


                  #9
                  Thanks for the other suggestions. I will have to go check some of this stuff tomorrow. Tonight I am too busy with family stuff, and tomorrow I won't even be able to look at it until at least 7pm. I work 7am to 4pm, and then class from 4:30 to 6:30pm.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    dude wtf. the bad shit always happens to you. and you know to call me for whatever... so please do so.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      i say Vbelt, or bad alternator.
                      IG: @Baye30

                      FRONT VALENCE IS ZENDER!!! STOP FILLING MY PM BOX PPL!!!

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Voltage regulator.... ???????

                        Comment

                        Working...
                        X