I was driving, and all of a sudden the ABS Inop light came on along with the Check Gauges light. No SES light. I also noticed the voltmeter was in between 8 and 13, in the middle of the yellow zone. I don't know what a misfire is, so I don't know what the symptoms would be.

I also noticed that the starter seems to be turning over slower than it usually does when I start the car. I have to press the gas harder to get the car rolling at idle, but once up to speed it seems fine.

Is it the battery? Alternator? Cat conv? 1995 3.4 V6 A4, 95,360 miles. Help me please!

 

My vote is for the alternator... Mine just went up a month ago, and these were the exact symptoms. BTW, change it yourself, it's a breeze!
-John

 

OK, checked the battery: dead. replaced it, and now the ABS Inop light is gone, but the Check Gauges light is still there. Also, on the highway, my trans didn't go into OD.

After the battery change, the OD went in, but the voltmeter is still at the yellow zone. Took it to Pontiac, and they said the alternator. I made an appt. for Wednesday. How could I install it myself? Tools? I've never done something that involved before. The only things I do by myself are oil changes and tire changes. Any instructions or pointers?

And which brand of alternator should I get? Any good ones? Sorry for all the ?s.

 

the alternator is a breeze, go to autozone and pick up their duralast. had one on my truck for years... also, this helped my voltage gage tremendously. on your passenger side fender well under the hood right beside the battery, theres a oval red cover with a + sign on it. take that cover off and tighten those wires down and see if that helps. That wire drove me absolutely NUTS, until i accidentally brushed against it and it made a change in the way my engine was idling. tightened it down and wow, huge difference even in performance. If you get the old alternator off before you go to AZ, take the old one with you, they have equipment to test it to make sure it is bad. and use it to compare to the new one just to make sure they're exactly the same. as for taking the old one off, disconnect the battery (both posts), take the belt off of the alternator pulley ( take a i think is a 12mm wrench, put it on the bolt that sticks out of the idler pulley (pulley thats attached to an arm and spring loaded) and i think you press down on the wrench to get the belt to loosen.) then there are two or three bolts holding onto the alternator itself, get the alternator loose and disconnect the wires, install new alternator. IF you have any doubts, go buy a haynes book for your car. You can learn how much money you can save by doing things yourself with a small amount of metric tools, etc. good luck.

 

Don't go the dealer!!!!

They will hose you like a brush fire!!!!

It simple as heck....just take your time.

 

that same light is on in my car. my car needs a new battery though is that the problem? is that light for the power system (starter alternator and battery)?

 

Well, I got the alternator changed....at Pep Boys. Put a new one (not remanufactured) in with a lifetime warranty, and labor for $188. I think that's pretty damn good, especially since the Pontiac dealer wanted $240ish, a Chevy dealership said $300, and another Chevy dealership said $400+!!!

I wanted to install it by myself, but my dad said, "Hell no!". He doesn't trust me to do something like that, even though I told him about the CZ28.com V6ers and the FBV6.com crew giving me advice, and the fact that I have a Haynes manual. Oh well, he said he'd pay labor anyway, so I lucked out there.

Anyway, car runs fine now. Thank you very much guys!