1991 Buick Park Avenue Replacing Alternator

1991 BUICK PARK AVENUE

300,000 MILES

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Hello, I am in the process of replacing a faulty alternator in my Park Avenue. I was able to successfully remove the old alternator from the car. After removing the alternator, I realized that my car battery is completely dead (the car sat for ~2 months after the alternator stopped working). The battery itself is in fine condition, was put into the car about 6 months ago, and the connections are fairly clean.

I was wondering if I should charge the battery before installing/connecting the new alternator to the car, or if it would be alright to try to start the car after connecting the new alternator without charging? If a charge is needed, would it be acceptable to charge the battery via jump cables connected to a working vehicle?

Thank you for your help, I am very inexperienced with automotive work. As much information as you can give me on this subject would be very appreciated.

Aug 27, 2013 at 7:48 PM

CJ MEDEVAC

CERTIFIED EXPERT
11,004 POSTS

I'D GO AHEAD AND FINISH THE ALTERNATOR INSTALLATION TASK AT HAND......OF COURSE, YOU DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY WHEN YOU BEGAN THIS TASK

THE BEST THING YOU COULD DO IS "SLOW CHARGE" THE BATTERY OVERNIGHT AT "2 AMPS"......I'D DO THIS WITH IT DISCONNECTED OR EVEN COMPLETELY OUT OF THE RIG

............IN SOME RIGS, THE COMPUTER WILL SENSE THE LOW VOLTAGE AND CRAP WILL GO HAYWIRE, SUCH AS THE GAUGES AND SUCH......COMPLETELY DISCONNECTING IT AND INSTALLING A FULLY CHARGED BATTERY (OLD OR NEW) WILL RESET/ ELIMINATE THE POSSIBLE COMPUTER ISSUE, AS IT WILL SENSE 12 VOLTS IMMEDIATELY

AS FAR AS JUMPING IT, YES, IT MAY RUN (AND MAYBE JUST FINE)......BUT WITHOUT THE DISCONNECTION (AND A FULLY CHARGED BATTERY), THE COMPUTER MAY DO THE "HAYWIRE THING"........AND MAYBE NOT.........WHY RISK IT?

SHOULD IT NOT BE UP TO PAR.......IT MAY NEED TO BE TESTED THOROUGHLY (NOT JUST A VOLTAGE TEST)........AROUND HERE, MOST POPULAR PARTS STORES WILL DO THIS FOR FREE.........THEY WILL EVEN CHARGE YOUR BATTERY OVERNIGHT FOR FREE, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CHARGER!

AT THIS POINT YOU EITHER HAVE A BAD BATTERY---A BATTERY STILL UNDER WARRANTY--OR YOU WILL NEED A NEW ONE!

MAYBE THIS WILL HELP YOU............

.................IF YOU GOTTA SPEND MONEY?

.....SCROLL THRU THIS WHOLE THREAD (LINK)

MAYBE THIS IS THE STORE YOU WILL BE GOING TO?

'MEMBER, YOU CAN DO THIS ON YOUR PHONE IN THEIR PARKING LOT!

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/2001-dodge-neon-milage-just-want-put-fliuds-their-locations

JUST FOR GIGGLES, YOU MIGHT TRY A FEW "DRY RUNS" OF INSTALLING YOUR INFO.....FINDING A BATTERY (SEARCH BOX).....INSTALL THE PROMO THAT WORKS BEST......SEE IF THE PRICES DROP...ON YOUR COMPUTER TONIGHT

WAIT 'TILL YOU ACTUALLY NEED TO GET ONE AT THE STORE PARKING LOT, BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY PURCHASE IT ONLINE AND USE THE P/U AT STORE OPTION.........YOU HAVE TO PURCHASE IT ONLINE FOR THIS TO WORK

SOUND LIKE A PLAN???

RETURN TO THIS POST AND LEMME KNOW IF ANY OF THIS HAS HELPED YOU

THE MEDIC

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Aug 27, 2013 at 8:23 PM