Thanks a million, everyone. This is all really helpful. I love my
car, and I want to keep it going for a long time (it only has 110,000
miles on it) so all of this info is a huge boon for the long-run.

I was able to use a battery charger to start it up, and I drove with
it still attached to the mechanic's. He's checking it out now; we'll
see what he says. But at least it's out of the projects, and it's
daylight, which always makes the projects a little less scary.

Again, thanks.

One quick follow-up: Since this happened earlier, and it resulted in
me paying $400 for a new alternator, should I be worried that was a
completely unnecessary job? If the problem was faulty/ corroded
wires, should I be making a fuss with the mechanic?

 

EganReich proclaimed:
> Thanks a million, everyone. This is all really helpful. I love my
> car, and I want to keep it going for a long time (it only has 110,000
> miles on it) so all of this info is a huge boon for the long-run.
>
> I was able to use a battery charger to start it up, and I drove with
> it still attached to the mechanic's. He's checking it out now; we'll
> see what he says. But at least it's out of the projects, and it's
> daylight, which always makes the projects a little less scary.
>
> Again, thanks.
>
> One quick follow-up: Since this happened earlier, and it resulted in
> me paying $400 for a new alternator, should I be worried that was a
> completely unnecessary job? If the problem was faulty/ corroded
> wires, should I be making a fuss with the mechanic?

Some otherwise perfectly capable mechanics have problems dealing with
electrical problems. If there is an alternator specialty shop in your
area, they may be a better bet in diagnosing and recovering from wiring
issues.

 

EganReich proclaimed:
> Thanks a million, everyone. This is all really helpful. I love my
> car, and I want to keep it going for a long time (it only has 110,000
> miles on it) so all of this info is a huge boon for the long-run.
>
> I was able to use a battery charger to start it up, and I drove with
> it still attached to the mechanic's. He's checking it out now; we'll
> see what he says. But at least it's out of the projects, and it's
> daylight, which always makes the projects a little less scary.
>
> Again, thanks.
>
> One quick follow-up: Since this happened earlier, and it resulted in
> me paying $400 for a new alternator, should I be worried that was a
> completely unnecessary job? If the problem was faulty/ corroded
> wires, should I be making a fuss with the mechanic?

Some otherwise perfectly capable mechanics have problems dealing with
electrical problems. If there is an alternator specialty shop in your
area, they may be a better bet in diagnosing and recovering from wiring
issues.

 

EganReich proclaimed:
> Thanks a million, everyone. This is all really helpful. I love my
> car, and I want to keep it going for a long time (it only has 110,000
> miles on it) so all of this info is a huge boon for the long-run.
>
> I was able to use a battery charger to start it up, and I drove with
> it still attached to the mechanic's. He's checking it out now; we'll
> see what he says. But at least it's out of the projects, and it's
> daylight, which always makes the projects a little less scary.
>
> Again, thanks.
>
> One quick follow-up: Since this happened earlier, and it resulted in
> me paying $400 for a new alternator, should I be worried that was a
> completely unnecessary job? If the problem was faulty/ corroded
> wires, should I be making a fuss with the mechanic?

Some otherwise perfectly capable mechanics have problems dealing with
electrical problems. If there is an alternator specialty shop in your
area, they may be a better bet in diagnosing and recovering from wiring
issues.

 

You must have a really long extension cord.


"EganReich" <j.eganreich@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1171905416.422896.277860@s48g2000cws.googlegr oups.com...
> Thanks a million, everyone. This is all really helpful. I love my
> car, and I want to keep it going for a long time (it only has 110,000
> miles on it) so all of this info is a huge boon for the long-run.
>
> I was able to use a battery charger to start it up, and I drove with
> it still attached to the mechanic's. He's checking it out now; we'll
> see what he says. But at least it's out of the projects, and it's
> daylight, which always makes the projects a little less scary.
>
> Again, thanks.
>
> One quick follow-up: Since this happened earlier, and it resulted in
> me paying $400 for a new alternator, should I be worried that was a
> completely unnecessary job? If the problem was faulty/ corroded
> wires, should I be making a fuss with the mechanic?
>
>
>

 

You must have a really long extension cord.


"EganReich" <j.eganreich@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1171905416.422896.277860@s48g2000cws.googlegr oups.com...
> Thanks a million, everyone. This is all really helpful. I love my
> car, and I want to keep it going for a long time (it only has 110,000
> miles on it) so all of this info is a huge boon for the long-run.
>
> I was able to use a battery charger to start it up, and I drove with
> it still attached to the mechanic's. He's checking it out now; we'll
> see what he says. But at least it's out of the projects, and it's
> daylight, which always makes the projects a little less scary.
>
> Again, thanks.
>
> One quick follow-up: Since this happened earlier, and it resulted in
> me paying $400 for a new alternator, should I be worried that was a
> completely unnecessary job? If the problem was faulty/ corroded
> wires, should I be making a fuss with the mechanic?
>
>
>

 

You must have a really long extension cord.


"EganReich" <j.eganreich@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1171905416.422896.277860@s48g2000cws.googlegr oups.com...
> Thanks a million, everyone. This is all really helpful. I love my
> car, and I want to keep it going for a long time (it only has 110,000
> miles on it) so all of this info is a huge boon for the long-run.
>
> I was able to use a battery charger to start it up, and I drove with
> it still attached to the mechanic's. He's checking it out now; we'll
> see what he says. But at least it's out of the projects, and it's
> daylight, which always makes the projects a little less scary.
>
> Again, thanks.
>
> One quick follow-up: Since this happened earlier, and it resulted in
> me paying $400 for a new alternator, should I be worried that was a
> completely unnecessary job? If the problem was faulty/ corroded
> wires, should I be making a fuss with the mechanic?
>
>
>