Charging issue

2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO
160,000 MILES • 3.4L • V6 • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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CHRISTOPHER PHILIPS
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My wife's car is having an issue with power. A few weeks ago I noticed a drop in electrical power with the battery signal light on the dash. Over 2700 rpm's the light turned off but came back on at low rpm. I reached my destination and when i started the car upon leaving it was sluggish but fired. Like a bad alternator. But, the car was running fine and had no electrical power loss after that until yesterday evening. She drove it to the store in the evening, 3.1 miles. While driving every signal light on the dash was on, engine was very slow and unresponsive, and when she got to the destination it would not start due to low power from the battery. I came to her and gave it some charge via jump cables and she drove home with no issue. I later started the vehicle and ran every electrical drain I could with a voltage tester connected. No unusual drain. Since the alternatives are not cheap for these cars and they are known to have electrical issues I though that i would get a little advice before taking the alternator out for testing or replacement.
Jan 15, 2018 at 4:05 AM
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PATENTED_REPAIR_PRO
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Have both the battery load tested and the alternator tested. You should not have to remove it, they can test all of it while still on the vehicle.
Perhaps you have a bad or weak cell in the battery, or maybe even a failing alternator but I am leaning toward the battery at this point.
Jan 15, 2018 at 6:29 AM
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CHRISTOPHER PHILIPS
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Thank you, i will definitely do that.
Jan 16, 2018 at 7:50 PM
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STEVE W.
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Hello Christopher, just checking to see if you had any luck getting the issue taken care of?
Jan 18, 2018 at 9:05 PM