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bicentennial_baby Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-20-04 07:41 PM
Original message
DU Car People: What's wrong with my car?
OK, 1993 Chevy Lumina Z34. Battery light is on, stalls at low speeds and battery gauge is low. Alternator? Voltage Regulator? It sounds funny when it idles too. :shrug:
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JVS Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-20-04 07:42 PM
Response to Original message
1. Have you recently started running the AC because of summer?
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bicentennial_baby Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-20-04 07:45 PM
Response to Reply #1
3. Nope
No AC yet up here in W. Mass.
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NightTrain Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-20-04 07:44 PM
Response to Original message
2. I'm not a expert on cars, but I had a similar problem with my...
...1987 Plymouth Grand Fury three years ago. Once I got the alternator replaced, the problem went away!
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aquaman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-20-04 07:47 PM
Response to Original message
4. I am a car expert...
I would say, in my opinion, it is broken. :crazy:
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bicentennial_baby Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-20-04 07:47 PM
Response to Reply #4
5. Hehe
Yeah thanks. :P
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JVS Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-20-04 07:48 PM
Response to Reply #4
6. Let me add my expert diagnosis
Your car is an American car and it is 11 years old. Thus it has reached its life expectancy.
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bicentennial_baby Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-20-04 07:50 PM
Response to Reply #6
9. Naw, it's only got 58,000 miles on it
It belonged to an obsessive compulsive guy who was fanatical about servicing it. Other than the current issue, it's in great shape.
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trogdor Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-20-04 08:43 PM
Response to Reply #6
18. You beat me to it.
Sort of. I would have said, "well the problem starts with that blue 'bow-tie' thingy on the hood."
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Don_G Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-20-04 07:49 PM
Response to Original message
7. Have Your Battery Checked First
If it's okay, then it's probably the voltage regulator/alternator. I believe GM builds the regulator into the alternator.
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Mr.Green93 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-20-04 07:50 PM
Response to Original message
8. Auto Zone will test it free of charge
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Old and In the Way Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-20-04 07:53 PM
Response to Original message
10. Have the battery check 1st. Might be sulfated and unable to provide a
12 volt source.
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Ready4Change Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-20-04 07:54 PM
Response to Original message
11. Do you drive it a lot?
Do you drive it daily? For more than 5 minutes at a time?
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bicentennial_baby Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-20-04 08:10 PM
Response to Reply #11
14. Yes, quite a bit
Usually 30-50 miles a day, 5-6 days a week
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Ready4Change Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-20-04 08:28 PM
Response to Reply #14
17. Ok, that rules out...
That rules out the battery being drained by disuse. That happens a lot with cars that are only driven once a month, or once every couple of days but for just a couple minutes.

I'd guess alternator/regulator, but do have the battery checked.

It COULD be that the alternator/regulator were the original problem, but that they've now harmed the battery as well.

Hope you find a solution. None of these should be very expensive.
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solinvictus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-20-04 07:56 PM
Response to Original message
12. Check the following:
1) Battery strength and connectors. If the terminals are corroded, that could be the problem. More likely, though....
2) As before, take it to Auto Zone, Advance, NAPA or somewhere and have the alternator tested. Likely the voltage regulator is built into the alternator.
It sounds like it's not generating enough electricity to run possibly an electric fuel pump or even to ignite the spark plugs.
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camero Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-20-04 07:58 PM
Response to Original message
13. Do you have a volt gauge?
That shows how many volts the battery is putting out? Also, your lights would dim if it was the alternator. I agree with everyone to get the battery checked first.
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JanMichael Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-20-04 08:14 PM
Response to Original message
15. Alternator, regulator, or the idle air control valve
I hate car trouble....

Seriously, if I were you, I would check the battery, alternator, and get a tune up with new wires and plugs, new air filter, fuel filter, PCV valve and filter.

Stephanie
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jmowreader Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-20-04 08:14 PM
Response to Original message
16. Check the belt tension first!
If your alternator belt is loose, it won't charge properly. So check that (push down in the middle; it should have about half an inch of give in it) before you do anything else.

Then have the alternator tested.
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Snoggera Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-20-04 08:45 PM
Response to Original message
19. I have no answer, but another question for the wise ones
A van that ran great, and suddenly won't start. It turns over, acts like it wants to start, but won't. 1980's van with a carb. It seems to be getting gas, but can't be sure.

Any ideas? Two years ago, was doing something similar, and someone I suspect was a thief told me it was the "pickup." Charged me a few hundred dollars.
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