Granny's gone and done it again

[BigBlueHen53]

I think you are being ripped off with a chainsaw.

Thanks. Not sure what to do now ... would have to pay to have the car towed elsewhere. any idea approximately what this should cost?

 

[Nomadicus]

Thanks. Not sure what to do now ... would have to pay to have the car towed elsewhere. any idea approximately what this should cost?

It's been a long time since I replaced those two items myself but the way to get an idea is to check with your auto parts store for prices on the battery and alternator. And then is the battery really bad? Or is the alternator really bad? How did both go bad at once?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

It's been a long time since I replaced those two items myself but the way to get an idea is to check with your auto parts store for prices on the battery and alternator. And then is the battery really bad? Or is the alternator really bad? How did both go bad at once?

Yeah, I don't know. How would I know? I just have their word for it.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

And how would they go bad, going down the road? I never heard of that happening.

 

[Nomadicus]

And how would they go bad, going down the road? I never heard of that happening.

If the alternator goes bad while driving the battery will not be charging and go dead. Fix the alternator and the battery should recharge fine. That's the logic. I was in a car many years ago when the alternator did die and I was riding in that car in a foreign country when it did. Stranded right outside the gate of a federal prison. All ended well. Fixed the alternator only.

 

[pertnear09]

So .... GirlChild was driving the '14 Chevy Sonic to town last week and it just died on her. She was able to get to the side of the road but could not get it to start again. Terrified she had run it out of oil or something equally catastrophic, I told her to sit tight and called AAA to come tow it to the dealership. When they were able to diagnose it a week later they said it needs a new battery and alternator, to the tune of about $780. If they also do all the fluids (oil WAS low) and tire rotation, we're looking at over $850. Does this sound right to you guys? Oh, and also I asked about a credit for the alternator core and the gal on the phone in the service dept acted like I was speaking a foreign language. This surprised me, as I have had an alternator replaced once before and there was definitely a credit for letting them have the old alternator core. What do you guys think? Am I about to get ripped off? Should I seek a second opinion?

Sounds awful high to me. Never hurts to have a second opinion. I know batteries are over a hundred dollars now. And google said alternator is 275.00. They're tacking on about 400 for labor. I can't recall ever having to replace battery and alternator at the same time. Not that it couldn't happen.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

If the alternator goes bad while driving the battery will not be charging and go dead. Fix the alternator and the battery should recharge fine. That's the logic. I was in a car many years ago when the alternator did die and I was riding in that car in a foreign country when it did. Stranded right outside the gate of a federal prison. All ended well. Fixed the alternator only.

Oh, good to know!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Sounds awful high to me. Never hurts to have a second opinion. I know batteries are over a hundred dollars now. And google said alternator is 275.00. They're tacking on about 400 for labor. I can't recall ever having to replace battery and alternator at the same time. Not that it couldn't happen.

THanks, Pert.

 

[Nomadicus]

Goodnight everyone. Busy day tomorrow.

 

[pertnear09]

I can get a suckup truck to tow across town down here for just over a hundred dollars.