car electrical system advice

[articulatekitten]

About a month ago, I had a couple of instances where the battery light came on while I was driving. Before I could take it to be checked, the battery just died, & I had it replaced. When they removed the old battery, there was a ton of build-up on the battery connections.

Since then I've again seen the battery light come on a couple of times while driving--when I've had the stereo & the AC going at the same time in both cases. When I've turned one or both off, the battery light goes off.

Any hints on how to keep from being ripped off when I go have this checked out would be much appreciated. I want to take good care of the car, but I can't afford to blow money on unnecessary shit.

TIA

[CFBall]

About a month ago, I had a couple of instances where the battery light came on while I was driving. Before I could take it to be checked, the battery just died, & I had it replaced. When they removed the old battery, there was a ton of build-up on the battery connections.

Since then I've again seen the battery light come on a couple of times while driving--when I've had the stereo & the AC going at the same time in both cases. When I've turned one or both off, the battery light goes off.

Any hints on how to keep from being ripped off when I go have this checked out would be much appreciated. I want to take good care of the car, but I can't afford to blow money on unnecessary shit.

TIA

could be the alternator.

[DaveW]

whoever replaced the battery should have checked the alternator

[Redsnapper]

Sounds like they didn't check it too good, sounds like your alternator.

[vpkozel]

Any hints on how to keep from being ripped off when I go have this checked out would be much appreciated. I want to take good care of the car, but I can't afford to blow money on unnecessary shit.

TIA

You should send me some naked pics of yourself.

Oh, and have someone check your altenator.

[Thelt]

Did you get the cable ends cleaned good when you had the new battery put in? If not they might not be making good contact. Get a piece of sandpaper or a metal brush and go over them really well and then tighten them back with a wrench or pliers, not by hand. If that does not help then it is probably your alternator.

[builder]

I'd say re-clean the terminals. Throw some 10w30 on top of them after to keep the corrosion from coming back. Send vp naked pics of yourself. And have the alternator checked.

[Freakshow]

I've heard pouring a can of coke over the terminals can help. If that doesn't help, check the alternator.

[builder]

I've heard pouring a can of coke over the terminals can help. If that doesn't help, check the alternator.

Mythbusters says all that does is make the battery sticky.

[articulatekitten]

Thanks, everyone :)

Coke worked great at dissolving off all the corrosion when I first tried to jump off the old battery, but it doesn't seem logical that it would do much for preventing future buildup. So I'll clean the terminals really well again & have the alternator checked.

Sorry VP, no naked pics of myself are available at this time. ;)

[Thelt]

I think you can use baking soda mixed with a little water to clean them and avoid the stickiness. Not sending the naked pic to VP probably avoids some stickiness too....

[The_professor]

sounds like a flux capacitor issue.

[BushMaster]

City Auto Electric behind the big NAPA on Wilkenson Blvd.

reasonably priced and they know what they're doing.

[Trace]

You guys are going to get her electricuted. Car batteries are fucking dangerous if you fuck it up.

[Thelt]

Dont try touching it to your tongue or anything.