Mrmyke709
1,000+ Posts
Or better titled, "**** Autozone".
My Jeep has been experiencing odd mechanical issues for about 2 months. It started when I lost power to the entire dashboard, everything just went out..speedometer, radio, fuel gauge, the whole enchilada. The alternator light came on for a minute, and then I lost the transmission.
I took it to a transmission place, and was relieved to hear them say the problem was electrical in nature. Apparently the sensor on the transmission would freak out after the power surge. I could get her to run by popping the battery cable off and resetting the engine control unit until I could work on it during the weekend.
Last week, before the weekend got here, the alternator light came on full time during my lunch break. I made it back to work,whereupon the battery died. Fortunately I had my tools with me. My Cherokee has over 190K miles on it, so I don't leave home without them.
I pulled the alternator and battery and took them over to Autozone to test them. The guy behind the counter was somewhat lacking in the proper use and operation of the test bench. He pulls out the appropriate module for my alternator and plugs it in...while holding the clamps together.
BZZZZAP.
The charge was enough to spot weld the clamps together. I'm thinking that can't be too good for the computer. He drops in my alternator and it passes. Damn.
I figured the battery was hosed, so I replace it. I get the alternator back in, start the Jeep up, and *BLINK*....alternator light is back on.
Damnit.
I call the guy back over at Autozone, and he recommends testing the starter. Apparently a bad starter solenoid can create electrical issues. Back to the test bench. This thing is starting to look like Victor Von Frankenstein's lab, what with all the electrical burn scars on it.
He straps in the starter, and the computer freaks out and eventually says "Inconclusive".
Double Damnit.
OK, a starter is only $65, so I replace it. Everything is back in, new battery, new starter, a "tested and passed" alternator.
Lo and behold, she starts, and no alternator light. I drive home with the accumulated funk from the underside of my Jeep caked to my face and hair, but she is running.
Fast forward a week. Driving home, I glance down to see the angry red alternator light again.
****.
At this time, my dashboard is lit up like Las Vegas, what with the alternator and check engine lights all going off. I get her home and call my mechanic buddy, who recommends getting a wiring diagram and checking all the fuseable links and what not. It takes me most of yesterday to check it all. I reseat all the wiring connections, looking for corrosion or any sign of bad wiring. Zip. Nada. She's still dead. I am out of options. Except for my sneaking suspicion that the Autozone test bench has failed me in a most egregious way.
I limp to my Austin Autozone and fork over the cash for a new alternator. After dropping it in and saying a few homilies to the gods of shade tree mechanics everywhere...vroom....she cranks right up. I wait for the light to come on...and wait....and wait....huzzah!
Problem sol-ved.
I went back to the San Marcos Autozone to insert the faulty alternator in the counter guy's sphincter. He said, "Ummm, yeah, we've been getting some complaints about our test bench, they're replacing it next week."
Grrr.....
Since she's running great, I believe it is time for a beach excursion.
My Jeep has been experiencing odd mechanical issues for about 2 months. It started when I lost power to the entire dashboard, everything just went out..speedometer, radio, fuel gauge, the whole enchilada. The alternator light came on for a minute, and then I lost the transmission.
I took it to a transmission place, and was relieved to hear them say the problem was electrical in nature. Apparently the sensor on the transmission would freak out after the power surge. I could get her to run by popping the battery cable off and resetting the engine control unit until I could work on it during the weekend.
Last week, before the weekend got here, the alternator light came on full time during my lunch break. I made it back to work,whereupon the battery died. Fortunately I had my tools with me. My Cherokee has over 190K miles on it, so I don't leave home without them.
I pulled the alternator and battery and took them over to Autozone to test them. The guy behind the counter was somewhat lacking in the proper use and operation of the test bench. He pulls out the appropriate module for my alternator and plugs it in...while holding the clamps together.
BZZZZAP.
The charge was enough to spot weld the clamps together. I'm thinking that can't be too good for the computer. He drops in my alternator and it passes. Damn.
I figured the battery was hosed, so I replace it. I get the alternator back in, start the Jeep up, and *BLINK*....alternator light is back on.
Damnit.
I call the guy back over at Autozone, and he recommends testing the starter. Apparently a bad starter solenoid can create electrical issues. Back to the test bench. This thing is starting to look like Victor Von Frankenstein's lab, what with all the electrical burn scars on it.
He straps in the starter, and the computer freaks out and eventually says "Inconclusive".
Double Damnit.
OK, a starter is only $65, so I replace it. Everything is back in, new battery, new starter, a "tested and passed" alternator.
Lo and behold, she starts, and no alternator light. I drive home with the accumulated funk from the underside of my Jeep caked to my face and hair, but she is running.
Fast forward a week. Driving home, I glance down to see the angry red alternator light again.
****.
At this time, my dashboard is lit up like Las Vegas, what with the alternator and check engine lights all going off. I get her home and call my mechanic buddy, who recommends getting a wiring diagram and checking all the fuseable links and what not. It takes me most of yesterday to check it all. I reseat all the wiring connections, looking for corrosion or any sign of bad wiring. Zip. Nada. She's still dead. I am out of options. Except for my sneaking suspicion that the Autozone test bench has failed me in a most egregious way.
I limp to my Austin Autozone and fork over the cash for a new alternator. After dropping it in and saying a few homilies to the gods of shade tree mechanics everywhere...vroom....she cranks right up. I wait for the light to come on...and wait....and wait....huzzah!
Problem sol-ved.
I went back to the San Marcos Autozone to insert the faulty alternator in the counter guy's sphincter. He said, "Ummm, yeah, we've been getting some complaints about our test bench, they're replacing it next week."
Grrr.....
Since she's running great, I believe it is time for a beach excursion.
