electric problem...

[Brett Garret]

Last summer my starter started drawing hard on my battery causing it to lose alot of power and die. It was stock so with 150k on it Im sure it was its time. Well now a year later its starting to lose power like it did before it died. Could it be the starter OR could the flywheel be causing a strain thats lugging the starter to death? It's becomming obnoxious as my lights start to fade at a stoplight while the a/c and radio are on at the same time. Oh, and I had the alternator checked and got a new battery last year. Any advice accepted. Thanks.

[CDNFB]

Re: electric problem...

When your at the stoplight and things are dimming down, what does your volt gauge say? I doubt your starter is the problem because when your sitting there at the stoplight your starter isn't even in the picture.

At 150K, has your alternator ever been replaced or rebuilt?

If not changed:
I would bet my life on the fact that it is failing. Brushes are probably worn to limits. When brushes are worn like that the alternator can work perfectly one minute, and not the next. Chances are when they tested your alternator it just happened to be working.

If it has been changed:
You have a charging problem. That's not to say that your alternator or your battery are failing, but something is preventing them from working properly.
Check all grounds from the engine block to the chassis, from the alterntor to the engine block, from the battery to the chassis and engine block.

Put a voltmeter on the battery when the engine is running. You should have approximately 14.5 volts.