Bad Alternator?

[Redcallen]

I need help....I think my alternator maybe going bad or already gone. Yesterday I turned the car on and my radar detector which I have set to show voltage when its on standby was fluctuating all over the place when it usually stays between 14.2-13.9...then my stereo would not stay on, so i unplugged the detector..as i was driving the car shut off, gauges went down, no response from the accelerator, then everything came back up. This morning on the way to work my radio did the same thing when i plugged something into the cigarette lighter, i unplugged it, but this time my abs and brake lights came on while driving..then when i went out to lunch i tried starting it, but nothing, thought it was the battery and when i finally was about to jump it the alarm started going off, and the car started fine.....what really makes me think its the alternator is when i got back to the parking lot i had the car running, radio on, a/c on, and when i tried to turn on the headlights the car shut off....Sorry for the 4 page letter but i just wanted to fully explain...any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[speedracr79]

Chances are it is the alternator its not charging the battery some batterys will kinda charge themselves a little thats why it turns on again but wont last for long, if you know someone who has and knows how to use a volt meter have them check it out. I had an alternator problem with my brothers car I took it to autozone and pepboys they both said alternator was good so I drove with it bad for a few months and just kept charging the battery over night till one day my neighbor checked the alternator with his volt meter there's supposed to be like 12-12.5V and I only had 9V so I swapped it out and no more problem

 

[littlemimus]

Chances are it is the alternator its not charging the battery some batterys will kinda charge themselves a little thats why it turns on again but wont last for long, if you know someone who has and knows how to use a volt meter have them check it out. I had an alternator problem with my brothers car I took it to autozone and pepboys they both said alternator was good so I drove with it bad for a few months and just kept charging the battery over night till one day my neighbor checked the alternator with his volt meter there's supposed to be like 12-12.5V and I only had 9V so I swapped it out and no more problem

go to autozone and read u how many volts its cranking out. if its not in the range speedracr said id change it.

 

[mazdaspeedp]

just take it to a shop and get them to check the whole charging system see if its you battery or alternator

 

[Redcallen]

Thanks for the help.....will update once I find out whats going on

 

[pavone]

also, is ur battery light on? my car did the exact same things you gotta be carefull because if you go to long with a bad alternator it could kill the battery real quick.

i had mine replaced at the dealer because i was lazy and didnt want to replace the alternator from the spot i could see it.. dealer did it for 400 parts n labor.. so i was happy about that lol

 

[Redcallen]

so i took my car to advance auto to have the alternator tested...the alternator checked out...with no load at idle it read 14.2v, and under load(blower, high beams, 3k rev) 14.2v again....and also when I got back home i turned on the radio, a/c, high beams, with the car running as before, and it didn't shut off....no stutter, nothing...the rpms went up like they're supposed to compensate for the a/c.....i dont know what else it could be...any ideas??