i just replaced the battery and the altenator on the car(like 20 miles ago maybe a month ago). havent really gotten around to driving it. im going on a road trip tonight and when i was driving the battery light came on then a few other lights last time this happened the alt went and the car died. is it that im not driving the car long enough for it to charge or is there something else im over seeing?

 

you make sure you hooked up the alternator correctly? .. i can only think of an alternator problem..

 

Have you hooked up a voltmeter to it and see if it's reading more than 13.5v with the engine running??

 

im kind of limited on tools im not at my house. i double checked everything its all tight. i hope i didnt get a bad alt. it seems to me thats the problem i just dont want to admit it :facepalm:

 

i had a very similar problem my battery light went on after buying a new one and a new alternator because i had crossed my terminals, but it resulted that it wasnt none of that it was actually one of the main engine fuse 150a in the relay box check all your relays and fuses before anything...

 

i will check that. the battery light comes on for like a min then the other accersary lights so i dont know about the fuses. i turned on the car it struggled to start then started up battery light was on for like 30 seconds then gone. im not going to drive it but i dont know

 

wow that sounds like the same problem that happend to me, check all your fuses outside ones and inside ones mainly all your relays that are out side when ever theres a problem it hits your relays and fuses before anything these lights are just a sign of a cut somewhere it sounds like a fuse or a relay.... and if is not this then make sure the alanator is pluged in correctly and that is an equevalent 150amp or higher no less...let us know if this doesnt work we'll be here to help...

 

definetly i hope its something stupid that i can fix tomorrow. i will keep you posted thanks

 

Sounds like to me you have both problems at hand, it's either one or the other. Go to walmart and get a voltammeter and check volts before you start the car and then after it's running. before start you should have 11-12, after running on idle you should have anywhere from 12.5-13.0. Try revving the motor a few times to see if it makes a difference.

Alternators fail all the time because of heat and debris. Look it over and make sure all connections are tight.

 

yeah thats another thing how do you clean altenators? mine was filthy when i got it looks like the car was either on fire or it was dragged out of a tar pit.

 

checked all the fuses and relays and their fine checked the sensor and the terminal on the alt couldnt find the ground forget if there is one. and everything seems fine i geuss its the alt?

 

LOL then chances are it's your alti. Just go to Walmart or radio shack and get that voltammeter! i know they can't be that expensive and after that, you will know where your problem is.

 

same $h!t happened to me tonight....
driving home, my system(stereo) shut off & battery light came on. "here we go..." i said to myself.
soon after the TRAC light and another light(can't remember) came on...
made it about 15 miles and the car died. i was like 3 miles from home. ugh.
jumped it off my Camry and barely made it home(lights were coming back on again at this point). pulled the battery and i'm replacing it tomorrow(old battery). the alternator is not old at all(like 10K)... i'm really hoping it's only the battery.
let me know your sitution, and i'll tell you mine tomorrow. good luck! lol

 

its weird because when the car sits for an hour it charges and i can start it again but then it dies so maybe the battery isnt sealed im going to check it tomorrow maybe it needs water. im stuck at my friends house and we dont have a working between us lol.

 

i think i figured out my issue....
power steering pumps on the 400's are right above the alternator...
i've been getting power steering pump whines lately and told myself, "i should get pump soon and change it"
needless to say, i think the pump was slowly leaking onto the alternator causing it to poop out... now i need to order both.
todays lesson..always listen to the Lex when it's trying to tell you something is wrong...