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find someone who knows what voltmeter is and have them check output from alternator. If you have more than 14V, or just shy of 14V, your alternator is good.
Mof, should you be good looking or put some flirt into it, any parts store guy will do it for you for free and will not lie. It's pretty simple, you can look over his shoulder at the gauge.
Yes, battery prices went up. But it takes only 10 minutes to replace one, and battery is around $80-100. So the rest you paid them for ten minute job.
AutoZone, O'Reilly, Advance Auto etc. at least used to install batteries for free. I dont know if they do anymore.
And there are only a handful of battery manufacturers around. For the most part, you are paying for brand name, and warranty.
Also, a battery every four years in a rough enviornment like CO isnt bad.
Like has been suggested, have a store test the alternator, and ask them to recommend a good shop. Shop around the prices now if they agree its not doing its job. Better to budget and fix it now before you are stranded.
NONE of parts stores is permitted to install ANYTHING, including batteries. But, like I said....
This isn't true at all, said the former parts man.
Many stores WON'T, due to liability issues and concern about pissing off shop customers. But many national retail chains these days advertise simple installation of batteries, wiper blades, headlamps, and the like, so obviously it's not a legal issue.
I guess my question/vent is I'm always afraid of being taken advantage of as a woman who doesn't know a lot about cars.
The only solution is to find a mechanic who is deserving of your trust, and money. I'm a motorcycle mechanic (it's even worse on women in this field) and I can honestly say that you're not going to find that trustworthy mechanic at a dealership. It's just not going to happen unless you hit that one-in-a-million exception that proves the rule. I wouldn't count on it though.
So, you're down to independent shops. They exist because those who own and work in them couldn't stand the slimy dealer practices anymore. Now, there are still slimy practices by some (lots?) of these shops, but you have better odds than with dealers. Next is to find a shop that specializes. Normally it'll be Euro/Asian/American for the splits, but if you can get it even more narrowed down.. a Toyota/Honda or just Toyota shop, the quality of work will be better. After that, it's just trying till you find someone honest.
A good place to start looking (at least that I've found... I don't always want to do all the work on my 4-wheeled vehicles) is this website: Mechanics Search | Car Talk
You'll even find reviews from other females who post reviews about how they were treated. You can also network a little bit if you happen to find a shop with good female reviews (who doesn't work on whatever your car is) and ask Them for a recommendation of someone who will treat you fairly.
Once you find one, it gets easier as you can ask them for recommendations if you change cars, or keep buying vehicles that they will work on for you. I love recommendations from female riders because I get more business that way than any other single method. And that's going to be the biggest negative, good mechanics have lots of work. Most will fit you in, but it might be waiting a couple weeks for any scheduled service.
They charged me 135 dollars for the battery and the rest was install...it's a 2008 Mazda 3. It was one of those things where it wouldn't start, I got the jump, and I took it right across the street because I didn't know where to go and I didn't want to drive it home and get another jump. So I know I paid for convenience.
I can take it to AutoZone and have them test the alternator for free?
They charged me 135 dollars for the battery and the rest was install...it's a 2008 Mazda 3. It was one of those things where it wouldn't start, I got the jump, and I took it right across the street because I didn't know where to go and I didn't want to drive it home and get another jump. So I know I paid for convenience.
I can take it to AutoZone and have them test the alternator for free?
Here's what to do about your alternator.
1. Listen. Do you hear any kind of squeaking, rough humming, or rumble that isn't normal. If "no" then the alternator bearings are fine (at least for now).
2. Drive it as usual. If your alternator is not charging, your battery will run out of charge within a day or two. If everything is working normally, a week from now, you know your alternator is fine.
The bottom line is that this "mechanic" you got the battery from should probably not have access to your car again. Even though $400 is not an outrageous price to have one installed (the part itself is $150-$200), the fact that they're trying to scare you into replacing it is not acceptable.
p.s. A battery change is ridiculously simple. I figured it out all by myself as a 16 year old GIRL before google existed.
YouTube videos are great for simple home and car repairs these days.
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