What is wrong with my car??

[Sirrahsim]

We went ahead and took it to the big garage because it ended up being cheaper. Turns out that the battery is just nearing the end of its life so they are replacing it for us. One shop would charge $81 total and the other was charging $85 total so we are paying the $85 because it is closer and more convenient. I'm SO glad that it wasn't something more expensive!!

[Lady's Human]

Jessika,

Yeah, mid '80s to mid '90s GM products had alternators with open bearings. The placement in some cars also gave the alternators heat issues. Both problems result in the bearings having a such shorter lifespan then would normally be expected.

[Randy_K]

Just a wrap up: The most important clue was the need to have the car jump started only after a few minutes after shutting the car off. All cars these days are fuel injected (a computer-controlled system that delivers the fuel in measured amounts to each individual cylinder) but for the injection system to work while starting the car the battery has to deliver at least 10.5 volts while running that incredibly power-hungry starter too. A weak battery just can't do all of this at once!

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

I'm SO glad that it wasn't something more expensive!!

Haha, that brings back some "sweet" old memories!! When we were returning to Belgium after 2 years in the USA, we had to replace ALL 4 tires just 2 weeks before we were selling the car! Some idiot had stabbed them all four with a knife

[smokey the elder]

Fortunately, my Toyota dealership doesn't try to pull that, especially since I diagnosed bad calipers that they didn't pick up on until I insisted they do a road test, a month after I told them the brakes were acting up and they said they were fine.