I died tonight

[b2rich]

Right in the middle of an off ramp.
I was on my way to pick up my brother at his nephews house at about 5pm.
Today i took my brother to his nephews house so i could take the day off. I home care him for multiple problems. I was thinking of heading up to loon lake today, but decided to stick around home and get some rest.
On the way back to pick up my brother, I was coming of I-80 up the off ramp to the light, everything went black. I sat there for about 2 min and finally got a chance to put the vehicle in n and back down the ramp so i could get onto the side of the road.
I turned the key and nothing, nada. I let it sit for a couple of minutes and the 4 ways got brighter. Tried to start it. click. nothing. just pne click. every thing went dead.
I called Mitch and told him what was happening. about 45 minutes later he shows up. Also a guy in a 80 somethin ranger pulled over and gave me a hand. we hooked up the battery and the B2 started right up.
The new battery is to big for tray. because it has this funky lip on the bottom of the battery that wont let it sit square on the tray.
So I guess i need to change the alternator out.
I asked the guy that stoped if he was a member of this forum. but he wasnt.
I really did appreciate him stoping.
This is the first time that the B2 has left me stranded.

 

[bobbywalter]

you checked the alternator output?


you sure its not a bad or loose connection?

 

[country0001]

Thats cool that another ranger stopped to help

 

[unoleisu]

Sounds like a bad or corroded connection to me. I've had similar situations before, and it always seems to be corrosion somewhere. The clamp on (to cable) battery terminals often get funky inside, and the ground cable to engine block can foul up as well. Also look at the main hot battery cable to the starter solonoid. The contact point there can be an issue.
I'd check all of that before yanking out an altenator. But definataely have it tested after all connections check out, before just buying a new one.

Also, I have had very poor results having an altenator tested at O'riely's and Autozones. I'm not sure if the testing equipment is bad, or it's poor trained employees, but every time I've had altenators, or starters tested at any of those places, they said bad, and when I verified thru a more professional source, found they were wrong.