Car troubles

• friendfromlowry

  This probably isn't that complex...my dad is thinking one thing, my best friend (who is probably more experienced with cars thinks otherwise) I'm sure anyone with any car expertise would know for sure.
  
  Anyways, today I left work and my car was running fine (aside from needing new tires and the alignment fixed)...I drove the 35 minute commute back to my apartment. I was probably within a mile or two when I looked down at the dashboard and noticed the speedometer was at 0mph (I was going 35ish) and the battery light as well as the ....check engine light...I believe...were both on, which has never happened before.
  
  Anyways, I made it to my apartment, and reluctantly turned the car off, expecting it to not start back up. But, when I turned the key a minute later, it started up fine (with same lights and speedometer troubles)
  
  So I went to class, and when I left school I noticed the gas gauge wasn't working (causing the low-gas light to come on) It returned to normal after a minute, but would occur again when my car would drop <50, like on off-ramps and what not. As I was getting off the interstate, the ABS light came and another random light came on...then the radio slowly died off and my struggled to a stop at the stoplight. I turned onto the main road, and the car wouldn't shift out of first gear..so I nursed it into a Speedway parking lot, where it sits now.
  A few minutes later, I tried to start it (with no intentions of driving it, just wanted to see if it would) and it gave me nothing. Another few minutes later (when my dad showed up) it at least tried to start, made a rattling noise, and then I stopped it quickly.
  So that's where it is now. My dad is convinced the battery needs replaced (something I haven't done in the 40,000 miles I've put on the car since owning it, or know when it was done previously before me owning it)...
  My friend isn't convinced it's the battery...thinks it's something with electrical wiring around the engine.
• tuskytuffguy

  alternator, it tends to do those funny things. That's my guess, but let's build a consensus of opinions.
• coyotes22

  

  tuskytuffguy wrote: alternator, it tends to do those funny things. That's my guess, but let's build a consensus of opinions.

  That was my first thought. But, Im no mechanic
• CinciX12

  

  Oh yeah, thats an alternator. The radio slowly turning off is a dead giveaway.
• stroups

  

  My guess is Alternator, it could just be a battery if you're lucky
• Trueblue23

  

  ccrunner609 wrote: the battery and alternator have nothing to do with how the speedometer works. I would say that you have a computer issue.

  True, but it could be losing power because of a bad alternator
• CinciX12

  

  Just wanted to mention that this same exact situation almost to a T happened to me a few years ago. Only difference was it happened to me at night so I slowly lost my headlights as well. That was pretty scary.
• tuskytuffguy

  I said alternator, because my first vehicle was an '81, and that was before computers and carburators still existed, and the symptoms he described fit my problem I had to a T. turned out to be the alternator. And yes, the goofy shit on the dashlights and the speedometer happened. Take the alternator out and take it to Autozone or Advance or whatever and have it tested.
• ytownfootball

  

  There should be a date produced sticker on the side of the battery. Say an '03/'04...six or seven years for a battery is avg. If it's bad, jumping it won't help. A deader than dead battery can cause some goofy outputs.
  
  Easy fix is to take it to Auto Zone or similar and have them test it. If it will take a charge but is currently dead, then look to the alternator, IMO.
• Trueblue23

  

  Take it to Auto Zone, they'll hook that computer of to it and tell you what's wrong.
• stroups

  

  CinciX12 wrote: Just wanted to mention that this same exact situation almost to a T happened to me a few years ago. Only difference was it happened to me at night so I slowly lost my headlights as well. That was pretty scary.

  +1
  
  It sucks when you don't have headlights
• friendfromlowry

  Trueblue23 wrote: Take it to Auto Zone, they'll hook that computer of to it and tell you what's wrong.

  Yeah probably. Unfortunately the car isn't parked within a simple distance of any autoshop. I'll probably have to call AAA tomorrow and have them come tow it.
• ytownfootball

  

  You can just pull the battery out and take it alone to Auto Zone. Do that first, have 'em check it out.
• Speedofsand

  

  friendfromlowry , what year, make and model is the car ?
• friendfromlowry

  Speed - it's a 2002 Honda Civic.
  
  I just got back from having it towed service shop. They'll call me when they know anything, hopefully sooner than later. Damn I hate days like these.
• Speedofsand

  

  I'll agree with alternator. $100, plus $300 labor
• bamagirl

  I feel you my vehicle is acting up too. But mine is likely going to be a very pricey repair.
• Belly35

  

  I agree that it is an alternator ....many gauges in cars and trucks today are Air-core or Stepper motor and work from a sensor or electric impulse. Receiving information direct from the sensor or from the EMC unit with a low electrical circuit generated from the alternator many gauges will not function under a given number of low amps. and the ECM unit will not work also
  Depending on the car you can replace an Alternator yourself …..
• zambrown

  

  My first thought was alternator too, based on your description. If the alternator is bad, you'll be okay at higher speeds, but when you slow, if it's not properly holding the charge, things will start dying. Happened to my Pontiac years ago. The battery is usually all or nothing.
• Belly35

  

  Thinking a little more it could be that the belt is not tight over the Alternator I would check that first
• bartsimpson

  The alternator is the problem. If the battery was bad you most likely wouldn't have any issues as long as you were moving faster than idle speed as the alternator would keep enough voltage generating to run everything. When the alternator goes bad, the engine/electronics/etc will run off the remaining battery voltage until it is too low to keep things running. If the battery goes to low, the engine will die, even if it was already running. People think the battery is only to start the car, but it's also part of the positive side of the car's electrical system. If it gets too low, the connection is no longer being made, causing the troubles that you had.
• dlazz

  The air in your tires is too low. Put air in them and the problem will go away.
• dm27

  i agree with the consensus, but you might want to replace the battery too if it's been 40,000 miles
• CinciX12

  

  If the alternator has went bad, chances are it has taken the battery with it. At least that is what happened to my car.