Cap or battery?

[Omarvelous 10+ year member]

I might not know much about this topic, but being a business student, i would approach it at a cost standpoint.

I would suggest holding off on the Alternator, being that they are the most costly solution.

Like CWT was saying i'd first say replace wiring. This will be the cheapest first alternative.

If you still have the problem, the second choice would be to research your battery and possible replace it. This would be your second choice alternative based on price.

Then if those fail i would suggest considering an alternator, or even a cap.

Maybe i've been looking in the wrong places, but alternators that i've seen run $200 and up.

 

[CWT 10+ year member]

darrenwang;

The positive line sometimes (On newer cars) won't go DIRECTLY to the alternator from the battery; you need to barrow a shop manual if it is not clear where the positive line is routed. It may go to an under-hood fuse block tied to a big fuse or circuit braker, like the escort I used to own.

Every manufacturer does it a little differently; On my Ford truck for instance, the positive is BRANCHED off of the battery, one going though a double in-line fuse and then to the starter relay, and then to the alternator (All cables on this line need upgrading); the other line running to the starter motor (This I don't change). And the ground is hooked up to two points from the battery; one to the engine that jumps to another ground, and one to the body (I need to change probably most or all of these). AND most are incased in insulation jackets, which makes them difficult to trace.

As you can see, sometimes there's more than "3" wires involved. And you might have to hunt for them; a manual makes it a little easer to find the ones you need.