Questions and Answers

Cavalier Died Q. Hi, I love your about.com site. I wrote you 2 weeks ago about Gunk engine cleaner. 1 week ago I bought a 1996 Cavalier Z-22, (the quad 4 Z-24 is not the greatest engine) and last night about 3 hours after I got home from work, the battery was dead.

I wondered whether or not it was the alternator, the car has 128,000 KM, but wouldn't the car have stalled in the middle of the road? I think the battery just died. It was a fast clicking sound when I turned the key, and when I tried to boost it I only got 2-3 revolutions of turn over. (so its not the starter).

Please help!
John

A. It's most likely the alternator John. When the alternator stops charging, the electrical system will work off the battery until there is not enough voltage to sustain the system. Most fuel pumps will shut down when the voltage goes below 9 volts and that would surely stop you dead in your tracks. As long as the battery is above 9 volts, the car will run.

I once drove from Madison, Wisconsin to Rochester, Minnesota with a dead alternator and I made it with no problems. Of course I have a diesel which has no ignition system and no electrical fuel pump, and it was daylight so I didn't need my headlights. I would not recommend trying to do this with a gas fuel injected engine.