jhark Posted September 20, 2020 Report Share Posted September 20, 2020 I think my alternator is going bad. Any suggestions as to who would be the best mechanic for this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHILLIN Posted September 20, 2020 Report Share Posted September 20, 2020 Agree with this one. There is also a good muffler and radiator shop there, the mechanics are right next door. My wife's friend was having this strange problem with her Jeep alternator and battery system. They went way above normal service levels to competently diagnose and repair the problem. The head mechanic there is Pepe, speaks english well. The manager, Luis, is fully bilingual. It is actually quite a large shop, with many workers. The building actually goes all the way back to the street on the other side. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickS Posted September 20, 2020 Report Share Posted September 20, 2020 Felipe @ Auto Check in Riberas.... next door down an alley from TeleCable/Wizz. English spoken, very reasonable rates. On a couple of occasions he could have told me that my car 'needed something' but he always chooses to be honest.... "I don't think you need to replace X right now.... maybe next year but not now if it were me". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Go Solar Posted September 21, 2020 Report Share Posted September 21, 2020 There is also an auto electrical shop on Pepe Guizar a bit south of the Chapala Goodyear shop, and Ron Young on the west side of the carraterra just north of Soriana is also very good with auto electrical. Easy for any of them to test the charging voltage, to know if it is more likely the alternator, or if you just need a new battery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickS Posted September 21, 2020 Report Share Posted September 21, 2020 Second Ron Young across from Soriana... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHILLIN Posted September 21, 2020 Report Share Posted September 21, 2020 The problem with today's vehicles is the extensive use of onboard computers. They control nearly every aspect of your vehicles operation. The problem is that if a single component in the board fails, probably worth pennies, there is nobody with the skills to track it down. The mechanic just recommends a new computer costing many thousands of dollars. Not saying that Pepe and Luis have these skills, but they have the uncanny ability to track down gently used parts in Jalisco, usually with some sort of warrantee by the salvage yard or parts picker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TelsZ4 Posted September 21, 2020 Report Share Posted September 21, 2020 Take it to Auto Zone. They have a machine which tells them if the alternator is putting out the correct voltage and if your battery is any good.. And there is no charge for doing it. if you need a battery they have a lot in stock, If they don’t have the alternator you need in stock they can usually get it the next day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHILLIN Posted September 22, 2020 Report Share Posted September 22, 2020 Again, be careful thinking you can just throw in a new battery and alternator. It has to be done in a certain way to avoid burning out the ECU computer. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TelsZ4 Posted September 22, 2020 Report Share Posted September 22, 2020 It is very easy to change a battery, all you need to be careful of is that you get the polarity right, but even if you don’t most vehicles especially newer ones are protected against reverse polarity. If the alternator is easily accessible it’s very easy to change, it would be hard to screw that up. But why bother Auto Zone will change the battery for free, and the cost of labor is so cheap why bother changing an alternator yourself. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyjillin Posted September 22, 2020 Report Share Posted September 22, 2020 In Riberas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHILLIN Posted September 22, 2020 Report Share Posted September 22, 2020 I don't have to worry about this. But I looked it up for you. You have to keep the ECM electric before you disconnect the battery. Otherwise it will lose its programming. I suspect this problem is quite widespread in Mexico. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Go Solar Posted September 22, 2020 Report Share Posted September 22, 2020 An ECM can lose the recent memory it has, when the battery power is disconnected. BUT it will quickly "re-learn" the settings once power is re-connected and the vehicle is operated for awhile. Changing a battery or alternator correctly, will not damage or burn it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickS Posted September 22, 2020 Report Share Posted September 22, 2020 The job of changing out a static alternator with the battery cable(s) off is not something that is going to bring other "electrical" issues with it. And millions of batteries get removed/changed out daily with no real need for concern assuming the person doing it has ANY experience at all. More likely to hurt your back than anything else... especially for us ole'uns. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TelsZ4 Posted September 22, 2020 Report Share Posted September 22, 2020 1 hour ago, CHILLIN said: I don't have to worry about this. But I looked it up for you. You have to keep the ECM electric before you disconnect the battery. Otherwise it will lose its programming. I suspect this problem is quite widespread in Mexico. Garbage... Disconnecting the battery for a short time will do nothing other than you have to reset the clock.. if you have the battery disconnected for several hours you may have to drive the vehicle a few miles for the ECU to relearn the parameters.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHILLIN Posted September 22, 2020 Report Share Posted September 22, 2020 I can't imagine in getting into a serious debate about batteries and alternators. The experts seem quite united on this. The Mercedes guy says he has multiple ECUs. My truck has none and can run on used cooking oil, home heating oil, and probably rendered whale blubber. Dr. Isuzu said keep It simple. No need to add stupid. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhark Posted September 25, 2020 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2020 Thanks to all of you for your input. I tried Pablo's Garage first. I walked over and we talked to someone through the locked gate. He said they were busy so they don't answer the phone. We left our number and no one called back. While getting an overnight charge at LTH I noticed the shop that Happy Jillin recomended right next door. We talked to Moises and arranged to come back the next morning with the car with the charged battery. What an excellent recommendation by Happy Jillin!!! Sure enough it was a shredding alternator belt. Two replaced belts later and back on the road. What a really nice experience and will definitely use AutoFix and Moises in the future. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Go Solar Posted September 25, 2020 Report Share Posted September 25, 2020 15 hours ago, jhark said: He said they were busy so they don't answer the phone. We left our number and no one called back. Sounds like they've got a plan to reduce the business volume issue......😷 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RVGRINGO Posted September 26, 2020 Report Share Posted September 26, 2020 That fits with the reason stores often stop carrying really popular products: "Because we can't keep them on the shelves". 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pappysmarket Posted September 27, 2020 Report Share Posted September 27, 2020 20 hours ago, RVGRINGO said: That fits with the reason stores often stop carrying really popular products: "Because we can't keep them on the shelves". 2003...Super Lake...Rye bread LOL 20 hours ago, RVGRINGO said: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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