So annoyed with my car!

[LittleChickenLady]

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Well one day, about two weeks after I bought it, I drove to Subway to buy lunch and came back. No problem. Later that day I was going to go to pick up something and my car wouldn't start. It would crank, but not start. My boyfriend's dad told us he thought it was the fuel pump. The next day it was working fine and I haven't had a problem with it since.

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Hmm, I'll have to tell my mom's boyfriend to give it a look. If it's not too hard maybe I could do it myself. Could you by any chance find out more information on what to do?

 

[twentynine]

I'll try to help out.

1- Just because the altenator was replaced, does not mean the replacement part (alternator) is not faulty. Matter of fact if the replacement was a rebuilt GM alternator bought from Auto Zone, I can almost garauntee it. GM alternators and Auto Zone is a bad combination. I had a 98 chevy p/u, alt went bad, bought a replacement from AZ, went bad, got a replacement free, went bad, got a replacement free, went bad got a replacement free--- FOUR TIMES. I swear when I opened the hood on that truck, the alternator would start unbolting itself. Gave up the AZ rebuilt replacements, bought one from NAPA. Paid twice as much but only changed it that one time.

2. Battery, how old? Just because the alternator is charging does not mean the battery is being charged. Have the battery load tested.

3. Check the alternator (sirpenteen spl)belt, does the car make a squeel noise when started, stopped or the wheel turned to the extreme in either direction.

4. check the BATTERY CLAMPS (little parts connecting the battery) make sure they are clean and tight. GM unless it was changed over you have side terminals, junk, junk, junk. Don't like'em, have never had any luck with'em.

 

[LittleChickenLady]

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I don't know where he got it from, but he said that it's got a lifetime warranty on it.

I still haven't driven the car, so I don't know if it's still acting up.

1) It's actually not too old, but apparently it is a $20 battery or something. Piece of crap says my mom's boyfriend.

2) It doesn't make noise.

3) My mom's boyfriend made sure the clamps were clean and tightened them to the point where it'll be hard to get them off.

Thank you for your help.

 

[twentynine]

Quote:
I don't know where he got it from, but he said that it's got a lifetime warranty on it.

I still haven't driven the car, so I don't know if it's still acting up.

1) It's actually not too old, but apparently it is a $20 battery or something. Piece of crap says my mom's boyfriend.

2) It doesn't make noise.

3) My mom's boyfriend made sure the clamps were clean and tightened them to the point where it'll be hard to get them off.

Thank you for your help.

Lifetime warranty-- if it's auto zone it does have lifetime warranty. You bring in the broke one they give you another one, and I done just that until the fourth one I got tired of swapping'em out.

$20 battery? Used? THat's where I'd look.

 

[lockedhearts]

Replace battery terminals first. Sometimes they use cheap ones when they make cars. Get Heavy duty ones. We had an issue with our exporer, replaced treminals with HD ones and it has been fine. If that does not solve it, new batteries. I will only run Interstate in my vehicles, expensive, yes. But Worth it IMO.

 

[LittleChickenLady]

Quote:
I don't know where he got it from, but he said that it's got a lifetime warranty on it.

I still haven't driven the car, so I don't know if it's still acting up.

1) It's actually not too old, but apparently it is a $20 battery or something. Piece of crap says my mom's boyfriend.

2) It doesn't make noise.

3) My mom's boyfriend made sure the clamps were clean and tightened them to the point where it'll be hard to get them off.

Thank you for your help.

Lifetime warranty-- if it's auto zone it does have lifetime warranty. You bring in the broke one they give you another one, and I done just that until the fourth one I got tired of swapping'em out.

$20 battery? Used? THat's where I'd look.

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I'm definitely going to go get an interstate battery as soon as I have time to. We just built our chickens a new coop and bought extra panels for their run area so we've been busy trying to get everything set up before it decides to rain. We've only got to finish the roof (shingles) so hopefully we can get that finished tomorrow.

As of right now I can drive my boyfriend's truck whenever I need it. How much are battery terminals usually, and is it easy enough to install that I can attempt to do it myself without ruining my car even more?

 

[Desert Rooster]

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Yes, Autozone parts suck, especially electrical parts and brake pads, I'm a mobile auto mechanic, and I've gotten alot of defective parts from them.

 

[LittleChickenLady]

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Yes, Autozone parts suck, especially electrical parts and brake pads, I'm a mobile auto mechanic, and I've gotten alot of defective parts from them.

I hope he would be smarter than to buy some crap part to put in my car.

I mean, he does this stuff for a living...you'd think he'd know where to shop and where not to shop.

 

[first time farmer]

Its always one thing after another with older cars my 94 f150 was having problems for about a month. It was just silly little things but then my brakes went so i decided to do a frame off restoration so almost every thing on it is new or rebuilt.

Some cars are worth fixing and some aren't

 

[twentynine]

Quote:
Yes, Autozone parts suck, especially electrical parts and brake pads, I'm a mobile auto mechanic, and I've gotten alot of defective parts from them.

I hope he would be smarter than to buy some crap part to put in my car.

I mean, he does this stuff for a living...you'd think he'd know where to shop and where not to shop.

Well, before I pass judgement on the man in regards to parts and where he got them from--- I'd have to ask--- Was this car repaired "on the side". Did you get the man to fix your car for free (his labor), telling him you ain't had no money, or just a little money? Did he buy the part? Did you buy the part, but were limited in finances? Alternator purchased from NAPA verses alternator from Auto Zone, it might cost nearly double from NAPA. If this guy repaired your car as a favor and from reading the thread it seems as if that is what went on.

Well as the old saying goes-----

Good work ain't cheap, and cheap work ain't good.

$20 battery-- I can't imagine getting any battery, rebuilt, blem, factory second, whatever for $20. It's a pay me now or later deal. You need to have the bargain basement battery checked. The alternator failing could cause the battery to fail, specially a $20 one. Then get a good battery, doesn't have to cost $100 but it does need to have enough reserve capacity to run your car. Heck, a battery for a riding lawn mower cost more than $20.