One thing after another.

[Hrududu]

Alrighty then, So I finally get this car up and running again. I know the U-joints now need replacing as they clank and buzz sometimes. What I don't know is what happend to the car this weekend. Yesterday while driving around, I noticed the charge light on my voltometer came on while driving, and the needle dropped to about 12.5 (it normally stays around 15) and the headlights and interior lights were very dim. Combined with that, It was idleing at only about 600rpm. I got out and attemped to turn up the idle. When I did I could hear what sounded like air rushing into the intake manifold, but it didn't change the idle speed at all. Strange. I also switched out batteries and it didn't help my electrical problem. Today, the car wouldn't start and I had to set the battery on a charger for a while to get it to fire up. Everything seemed okay, but when I took it for a spin around the block, the power problem returned. There are 2 things I think that could have something to do with my problems. For one, I recharged my air filter, and I may have used too much oil. Second, I was driving on some REALLY bumpy dirt roads this weekend. Nothing prolonged, just at a few intersections where it got really bumpy and my old struts made the car shake pretty hard. I have checked the fuses and electrical connections under the hood, and can't find anything wrong. Alternator? Im thinking something may have gotten shaken loose on the bumpy roads. Any ideas?

[kenz240z]

Have you checked the alternator to make sure it is good? Sounds like it might have failed. Or, the belt could be loose.

[Hrududu]

I did check the belt, and it's still plenty tight. I have a feeling the alternater is bad. I think I'll pull it off and have it checked out tomorrow. The guy who owned this car before me was a real jackass for many reasons. The alternater on here is made by Mitsubishi and is probably the wrong kind anyways. When the guy put it on, rather than removing the bolt in the arm to take it off, he cut the arm in half to pull out the alternater, which leads me to believe he probably didn't get the right alternater in the first place. Naturally, I had to get a new arm.