bigmike4969 Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 I own a 2000 ford focus. Today my girlfriend and I are out shopping, when I notice that, at every stop I come to, my battery light comes on. It did not start any rough idling or anything like that. When I started to drive the light went off. Well we decided after it did this a couple of times to head home. On the way home the radio started flickering on and off, then finally lost power. My wipers slowed down to a crawl and the dashboard stuff was going nuts (lights turning on and off, spedometer and fuel needles all went to zero), but thankfully the car did not stall. I was able to make it home (it did start to bog down as I got on my street) and shut it off. Tried to turn it over but all it did was make a clicking sound. The dashboard lights did come on when I tried this. So I am calling AAA tomorrow to tow it to my mechanic, but as I dont know jack about cars I wanted to see what you guys and gals think it could be (battery? alternator?). Thanks for any help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Footballjoe Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 Could be a lose belt or a bad altenator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keggerz Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 Could be a lose belt or a bad altenator. +1 but i bet its the alternator(because its more expensive)...at least thats what would happen to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbimm Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 Most likely the alternator. The other possibility is the IAC motor causing the idle to drop too low. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MojoMan Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 Sounds like a bad Johnson rod. Buy Japanese or German next time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cunning Runt Posted September 7, 2008 Share Posted September 7, 2008 Another alternator vote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Front Row Posted September 7, 2008 Share Posted September 7, 2008 Might just want to have the battery tested, Before you look into the charging system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkyard Posted September 7, 2008 Share Posted September 7, 2008 Exactly what happened to me last year. Same symptoms. Alternator shot. Good time to check out/replace belts while it's being replaced. Save a little on future labor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tboogs Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 Def sounds like an alternator issue....not sending enough juice to the battery. You might have to replace the battery as well as the alternator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Irish Doggy Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 You have to get up to 88 miles per hour for the flux capacitor to generate the 1.21 gigawatts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmike4969 Posted September 9, 2008 Author Share Posted September 9, 2008 You have to get up to 88 miles per hour for the flux capacitor to generate the 1.21 gigawatts. ONE POINT TWENTY ONE GIGAWATTS?!??!?!? Yup, it was the alternator. Battery was fine; it just needed to be 'juiced up'. I also asked them to check the belts and everything was good. Thanks all!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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