[KemoWithDaSS]

Bought my car a year and a half ago. I love it. Haven't had any problems with it up until now. A couple days ago I got in my car and my car battery was dead. I got it jumped off and figured I left a light on or something (Didn't pay attention to if a light was on or not once it was jumped). Once I got it jumped off I left and went somewhere for a couple hours (in a different car) and came back to get in my car and car wouldn't start again because of a dead battery. Took it to autozone after I got it jumped off again and they said it's my alternator! This is first time owning a sports car. Is this common after 39,000 miles? I haven't added anything new to car. No mods or no amps. Nothing. I was wondering what would be my best bet at a solution?

PS - Also Factory Warranty just ended at 35,000 miles

2016 Camaro 2SS 39,000 miles

[fastball]

Did Autozone guess that it's your alternator or did they actually run the load test?

When alternators go bad, your battery doesn't just die. When the alternator goes, the car is running off your battery, so immediately you will notice lights being dimmer, your HVAC fan running slower, and there would be some warning indicators showing low voltage on your dashboard. Your throttle response will all go down too as anything electrical suddenly goes from 14.4 volts operational voltage to 13, 12.5, 12, 11.5, 11, kaput. Then your car dies on the road.

If your car was running fine, then the battery just died after being parked for a while it might not be the alternator.

If it is in fact your alternator, Autozone should have told you to call a tow truck from their parking lot because you'd never make it home on just a jump from the battery. Or offer to sell you one and install it there - it's easy to access and replace on the LT1

I find it hard to believe an alternator could die at 39,000 miles but it's possible. More likely scenario is you just need a new battery.

[Nsxmatt]

If a battery is bad or shorted out many times it will not allow the alternator to charge. Autozone does not have the best tester for that. Have the battery tested and charged first. If it's bad replace it because you'll have to either way. Then see if the battery light it on from a non charge issue.

[KemoWithDaSS]

Autozone first did a test on the battery and said that it is good but needed to be charged and pointed me to a firestone so that they may sell me an alternator. Firestone didn't have one ready for me so I proceded to drive to my mom house which is 20 miles away and switch cars. I didn't recognize my lights being dimmer nor was it any indicators on my dashboard. My dad pressed on the throttle and he immediately knew less power was coming from it. I will have the battery fully charged and tested today. I have an appointment with Chevy who says they will replace it but for 675.00 bucks!

[fastball]

Originally Posted by KemoWithDaSS

Autozone first did a test on the battery and said that it is good but needed to be charged and pointed me to a firestone so that they may sell me an alternator. Firestone didn't have one ready for me so I proceded to drive to my mom house which is 20 miles away and switch cars. I didn't recognize my lights being dimmer nor was it any indicators on my dashboard. My dad pressed on the throttle and he immediately knew less power was coming from it. I will have the battery fully charged and tested today. I have an appointment with Chevy who says they will replace it but for 675.00 bucks!

It's real easy to access the alternator in our cars. Not hard or time consuming at all. If I were you I'd ask around to different garages, or show this to your Chevy dealer:

https://www.gmpartsonline.net/auto-p...lternator-scat

You can see list is $493.66 which is what the dealer is charging you, plus about $175 in labor. Both a complete rip off. They get money back on the core charge when they turn in your old alternator too.

$278.00 for the alternator and $80 labor is what I'd tell them. Tell them you can change it out in an hour.

[avalonandl]

Kemo- is the voltage gauge registering 13+ volts?

If it is it might be the battery. But if its not then def alternator....

[Nsxmatt]

Originally Posted by fastball

It's real easy to access the alternator in our cars. Not hard or time consuming at all. If I were you I'd ask around to different garages, or show this to your Chevy dealer:

https://www.gmpartsonline.net/auto-p...lternator-scat

You can see list is $493.66 which is what the dealer is charging you, plus about $175 in labor. Both a complete rip off. They get money back on the core charge when they turn in your old alternator too.

$278.00 for the alternator and $80 labor is what I'd tell them. Tell them you can change it out in an hour.

A dealer will not negotiate on parts prices and labor. You're welcome to buy the part online and pay shipping and pay someone else to do it but that's not how a dealership works.

[KemoWithDaSS]

Originally Posted by fastball

It's real easy to access the alternator in our cars. Not hard or time consuming at all. If I were you I'd ask around to different garages, or show this to your Chevy dealer:

https://www.gmpartsonline.net/auto-p...lternator-scat

You can see list is $493.66 which is what the dealer is charging you, plus about $175 in labor. Both a complete rip off. They get money back on the core charge when they turn in your old alternator too.

$278.00 for the alternator and $80 labor is what I'd tell them. Tell them you can change it out in an hour.

They are charging me 275 for Labor and 399.00 for the alternator.

[KemoWithDaSS]

I'm going to check the gauges as soon as I get home from work if it will crank up.

[torqueaddict]

Based on your reply to fastball's question, I'm going to assume autozone did not test the alternator. Before jumping to the conclusion it's bad, jump the car and have it tested. Autozone is like the Geek Squad of car repair. I wouldn't trust them to even install a battery.

[fastball]

Originally Posted by Nsxmatt

A dealer will not negotiate on parts prices and labor. You're welcome to buy the part online and pay shipping and pay someone else to do it but that's not how a dealership works.

I've negotiated parts and labor with dealers plenty of times. It works.

When you bring in the GM parts catalog and have the prices in front of them, well, lets just say the internet keeps them honest if you're willing to do a little work and be a little nasty right to someone's face.

[torqueaddict]

If you're on good terms with the service advisor and a frequent customer, they'll bend on parts and labor costs. Done it a few times.

[fastball]

Originally Posted by KemoWithDaSS

They are charging me 275 for Labor and 399.00 for the alternator.

Still too much for both. The alternator in our cars is a piece of cake, IF that's the problem..... Labor, my God...... for that price you can fly me to your house, pay for my taxi, and I will change it out for you for $50.00 cash in 30 minutes.

[KemoWithDaSS]

Update. Just came home and my car started. Battery Voltage guage is below 14. My car doesn’t seem to be showing any signs of an alternator problem. Taking it to Chevy dealer who said they will do a courtesy check to for certainty.