So I was driving to work today and my double din Pioneer Avic head unit turns off and won't turn back on. Then the gauges dim and the Bat, ABS, and Airbag lights come on. Then the vents stop blowing (but HVAC LCD still lit).

Sounds like classic signs of an alternator going bad.

I pull into work and turn the car off and attempt to restart it - no go. Surely I drained the battery driving on battery power with no alt working.

The car sat for about 5 hours while I was at work and I went out to try to restart it so I could drive it over by the battery charger and it STARTS UP JUST FINE! ??? Like nothing ever happened.

I popped the hood and had a look for corrosion on the bat terminals and alt terminals - NONE. However it was very easy to see that the seal where the distributor goes into the cylinder head was leaking pretty badly.. the alternator is covered in oil.

My question is, is it normal for it to come and go like this? Also, my parts store said there are two different alternators for my car. Do I need to pull my alternator to find out which it is?

If my car takes the lower amperage alt, can I fit the higher amperage alt without any modification?

Thanks!!! Car is currently down because of this and it's my only car. Any speedy help would be appreciated.

-Adam

 

There's one for an auto and one for a manual. THe manual one is a lower amp (90 if I remember right) and the auto is is higher (100?)

 

correct they usually have one listed for 5spd(90amp) and one for auto(100amp) as long as it says its for a sc300 you should be good to go. Just make sure the other one listed isnt for a sc400

 

Go to Advancedautoparts.com.....use coupon code BIG40....save 40 bucks and have free shpping

 

Thanks for the info guys!

 

chevy high out put will bolt up just have use couple washers same bolt pattern also use your pully and get chevy pig tail