OK here is the deal. I took my car to American battery (A local shop here) Am i getting screwed for a 200 amp alternator? for 325 bucks with new cerpinetine belt new "wires for the laternator" ? Take a look at the police report. I wrote it up and gave it to the police officer. Is there anythign i can do about these people? Should i go and pick up my car tomorrow?
September 30th 2004,
Today I got in my car to go out to the store. My car would not start. I released the hood and assessed the problem. I had come to the conclusion that the alternator was dead. I had come to this conclusion due to the fact that I had the battery replaced on the 17th of September. I then got jumper cables and started my car. I took my car to American Battery. I took it to them from hearing good things about there work. I told them I had a lot of stereo work done to my car and that might be the reason for the alternator going out. They said alright they could fix it. They fixed it so i thought. I drove it home parked it in the garage. did not drive it till the next date.
October 7th 2004,
Today I got in my car to go out to lunch. The car does not start again. I then take the jumper cables and jump my car off again. I take the car back to American Battery. I tell them what happened they said they would take a look at it and to call back later that afternoon. I called back later that after noon and American Battery tells me that my stereo had blown my alternator after they had fixed it. I asked them how it blew the alternator and told them I had fuses that would stop any kind of surge like that. I looked at the fuses and none of them had been blown. I told them that I wanted it fixed they said alright we will see what we can do.
October 8th2004,
Today I think they would be working on my car. Late that after noon American Battery calls me and tells me that they need to order a new alternator and tell me how much they are going to cost me. I get mad and ask them why I should have to pay for something that is there fault. American Battery then tells me that I can pick up my car in the morning before they go to play golf. I tell them alright.
October 9th 2004,
I wake up early and wait on a call to meet up with them to get my car since they did not want it in there shop incase somebody were to break in and mess up the car. Nobody calls to meet up with them.
October 11th 2004,
I go in to American Battery ask what is up with my car. They say that we need to order a new alternator I tell them no it is not my fault. American Battery still tells me that the stereo blew the alternator. After telling them about how the fuses were not blown it could not be my stereo. American Battery tells me the reason my alternator is blown is that there is wiring underneath the bottom of the alternator that was blown. I told them to fix it and I did not think it was fair that I have to pay. He said it would be 250 dollars for everything to be fixed.
October 12 2004,
Today I go in to American Battery and ask them what is up with my car. I look at the alternator and it is off my car. I ask what he is going to do and Steve (the owner I think) tells me to call back at 3 pm. I do this and he tells me to call back in 30 min I do this and the worker tells me to get my car out of the shop it is in his way. I ask him “How is it in your way you have had it for 5 days” He then tells me that there are 6 other cars that need to be fixed and he can not get them in the shop. The worker tells me that the owner has went to the bank and he will be back in about 30 min. So the worker calls me back in about 30 min and tells me it will cost me 425 bucks to get a new alternator put on. This price including new wiring, new belt and the alternator. I tell him this is crazy. Then he tells me he will order it and give it to me for 325 and have it on tomorrow so i will shut up.
September 30th 2004,
Today I got in my car to go out to the store. My car would not start. I released the hood and assessed the problem. I had come to the conclusion that the alternator was dead. I had come to this conclusion due to the fact that I had the battery replaced on the 17th of September. I then got jumper cables and started my car. I took my car to American Battery. I took it to them from hearing good things about there work. I told them I had a lot of stereo work done to my car and that might be the reason for the alternator going out. They said alright they could fix it. They fixed it so i thought. I drove it home parked it in the garage. did not drive it till the next date.
October 7th 2004,
Today I got in my car to go out to lunch. The car does not start again. I then take the jumper cables and jump my car off again. I take the car back to American Battery. I tell them what happened they said they would take a look at it and to call back later that afternoon. I called back later that after noon and American Battery tells me that my stereo had blown my alternator after they had fixed it. I asked them how it blew the alternator and told them I had fuses that would stop any kind of surge like that. I looked at the fuses and none of them had been blown. I told them that I wanted it fixed they said alright we will see what we can do.
October 8th2004,
Today I think they would be working on my car. Late that after noon American Battery calls me and tells me that they need to order a new alternator and tell me how much they are going to cost me. I get mad and ask them why I should have to pay for something that is there fault. American Battery then tells me that I can pick up my car in the morning before they go to play golf. I tell them alright.
October 9th 2004,
I wake up early and wait on a call to meet up with them to get my car since they did not want it in there shop incase somebody were to break in and mess up the car. Nobody calls to meet up with them.
October 11th 2004,
I go in to American Battery ask what is up with my car. They say that we need to order a new alternator I tell them no it is not my fault. American Battery still tells me that the stereo blew the alternator. After telling them about how the fuses were not blown it could not be my stereo. American Battery tells me the reason my alternator is blown is that there is wiring underneath the bottom of the alternator that was blown. I told them to fix it and I did not think it was fair that I have to pay. He said it would be 250 dollars for everything to be fixed.
October 12 2004,
Today I go in to American Battery and ask them what is up with my car. I look at the alternator and it is off my car. I ask what he is going to do and Steve (the owner I think) tells me to call back at 3 pm. I do this and he tells me to call back in 30 min I do this and the worker tells me to get my car out of the shop it is in his way. I ask him “How is it in your way you have had it for 5 days” He then tells me that there are 6 other cars that need to be fixed and he can not get them in the shop. The worker tells me that the owner has went to the bank and he will be back in about 30 min. So the worker calls me back in about 30 min and tells me it will cost me 425 bucks to get a new alternator put on. This price including new wiring, new belt and the alternator. I tell him this is crazy. Then he tells me he will order it and give it to me for 325 and have it on tomorrow so i will shut up.
So i guess that it was too much strain on the stock alternator with a 1600 watt amp and some other things. how does a cap help ? I mean it still pulls the same ammount of power as the amp. But does it pull it all at once store it then pull it again when it needs it? So the alternator does not get stressed cause it is not always being pulled on that much. how does the amp kill the alternator and not the battery?
