Car died. Alternator?

[NielsGalan]

So I had to call a tow truck today. First time ever, and it felt really embarassing. It's really cool to be driving around in a 19 year old car that still looks good. But it is equally uncool to be standing roadside by your 19 year old car with the hazard lights on waiting for a tow truck :-) But I'll live.

So here's what happens:

- Upon startup the last few mornings alternator belt has squealed for 2 seconds. Belt is new and tight, so this has puzzled me. I'm adding this in hindsight to build my case against the alternator.

- This afternoon the Oil pressure light comes on. Plenty of oil in there. Start the car and continue. Light stays on.

- Wierd highpitched whirring sound from engine, coming in bursts. It is not the belt sound. Something is definetely sounds broken. Actually sounds like a child screaming. Sound kicks in at higher rpm's. No noise while idling. Almost no power from the engine.

- The engine struggling, I get over the hill and go easy on the car. Trying to make it home so I can park it and have a look.

- Going slightly down hill and in neutral engine dies. Roll as far as I can and stop by the roadside.

- Try to start engine, but almost zero power. I call the tow truck.

All this is within a period of 10 minutes.

I'm guessing the alternator is dead/seized. Do you agree? I do not know where the oil pressure light comes into the equation, but maybe this makes sense.

Any input is appreciated.

[BMWDriver]

The oil pump must be dead. I do not know your engine well, but the pump would likely be also driven by the belt. If it had been the alternator, you would not have had much electrical power to even put the blinkers on, though your trip only lasted ten minutes.

You could have serious damage to the engine, by the way. The sounds you described are quite foreboding.

I'm quite sorry to say, but I can't exactly imagine why the oil pressure warning would come on otherwise, and why it would go on for an alternator problem.

[DaveVoorhis]

The oil pump must be dead.

Very, very unlikely.

It does sound like a failed alternator, however. The oil light may be coming on as the seizing alternator briefly slows down the engine, and/or because the battery is low.

[632 Regal]

sounds typical of a bad alternator.

[NielsGalan]

Wow thanks Jeff and Dave. BMWDriver almost ruined my night's sleep completely :-)

RE: "you would not have had much electrical power to even put the blinkers on." It seemed that the hazard lights were on a different circuit or at least on some emergency reserve, so they worked although no power to the rest of the car. No mystery there.

I'm more confident now, having read up on the subject + your input. Thanks.

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

My alternator went out a couple months ago, it was the regulator that failed.

I noticed that as it was dying the electrical started to act wierd.

1st the radio died, gauges went and died, then the motor started to run rough and died...the battery was totaly dead..

[tim eh?]

when my alt died the only light that came on was the abs light it kind of flickered... i checked it out the abs is on the same circuit as the alt and starter... i thought that was a weird setup but whatever seems like every car's got its own thang when the alt goes.

edit- oh yeah the radio died first in mine too when the battery died ... first the amp (i could hear the speakers click off) then a few minutes later power to the head.

[NielsGalan]

So I had the alternator out today and took it to a guy who specializes in rebuilding and fixing alternators. According to him the alternator is just fine. He gave it a once over, cleaned it and soforth, but he said it checked out fine. When I took it out it spun fine and didn't "seem" broken.

So I'm going to reinstall it "tomorrow", get out the jumper cables and see what the car says.

Hope she'll come back to life. Something definetely sounded broken, so I'll be careful.

[Ross]

So much for my agreement then.

[NielsGalan]

So much for my agreement then.

Qué? Me not follow.