Hey guys, I have a 2003 4wd Blazer. For the past couple of weeks whenever I would shift from drive into park the car would automatically cut off. However, this has been an intermittent problem. On the way to work the other day it was idling rough at stop lights and a rumbling sound was coming from the engine. On my way home that night, about 10 minutes from my house, the battery light went on and the voltmeter dropped to to about 12. Made it home has the voltmeter continued to drop. This morning I turned it on and voltmeter dropped to 0 in about 2 minutes. Still power to lights, radio etc. but car is dead. Battery is about a year and half old. Am I looking at an alternator issue? Thanks.

 

It does sound like the alternator to me. Could also be ground issues etc. How old is the alternator? I would probably start with the alternator.

 

I think it's the original alternator. I'll jump the battery and see if it holds a charge when I get home tonight. Thanks.

 

If it has problems while the engine is running it's not the battery. You could remove the battery altogether and it should run just fine.

 

Hey, definitely the alternator. Makes a loud grumbling sound when I spin it by hand. Getting a new one from Autozone today. Can I just pop the new one in? Battery seems fine. Should I take it to get charged as well. The old one is really stuck in there good. I'm also going to get a pry bar or something to get it out of there.

Thanks

 

You can just change the alternator out with the new one no problem. I don't get why your battery would be stuck?? Are you sure you removed the little plastic battery hold down at the bottom of the battery? Sometimes it's hard to see. Off the top of my head, I think it is a 10mm deep well socket with and extension on your ratchet to get to it. I think you could just recharge the battery and it would be good. It hasn't been drained too long.

 

I think he might mean the alternator is stuck?

If you did mean the alternator, did you remove all three bolts? There's one at the back that I forgot about when I did mine, once it was out the alternator came out easy.

If you meant battery then what rockp2 said, except it's a 13 mm nut.

 

Yeah, sorry I meant the Alternator. I had to use a pry bar to get it out. Got the new alternator in. I'll charge up battery at Autozone tonight, and I should be good. Thanks.