Took the van to Interstate Batteries today after jumping it. The guy used the tester thing and determined it's the alternator. 

The tester said the alternator has low voltage and so it's not charging the battery. The battery tests at only 11.8. 

So, what's the best option for replacing the alternator? Used, new or rebuilt? And where is the best place to buy?

Thanks!

~Annie
Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 1, 2011, at 1:45 PM, Jeff Lincoln <magikvw@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

> Annie,
> 
> I was having the same issues. I realized my van had an undersized battery in
> it - PO used it in summer only.
> 
> So I bought a new battery from WallyWorld. I didn't realize that the sticker
> on the "new" battery said 11/09 on it. When I got home and put the battery
> in I still had to jump the darn thing to get it going. I then trickle
> charged the battery over night. Things were fine until it got real cold
> again and then it wouldn't start again.
> 
> Long story short I took that darn battery back and sure enough it was bad
> off the shelf. So what I am getting at is your battery may only be a year
> old to you but how long did it sit on the shelf before you purchased? Most
> places I am familiar with have a year replacement and even a significant
> discount on a new battery after a year. You may want to check into that.
> 
> That being said another thing that occured to me - and I could be WAY off on
> this so hopefully others will chime in - but many of us run a thincker
> (20/50) weight oil in the summer and then something lighter int he winter
> months. It seems to me that if the thicker oil is being used at real cold
> temps it could take a significant amount more *Ompf *to crank the engine -
> thus causing the battery to work harder on that initial morning start up.
> Again I could be talking out my wazoo here so I'll leave it to those more
> knowledgable than I to confirm or bust that idea.
> 
> --
> Thanks,
> 
> Jeff
> '85 GL (Gertie)
> '90 Carat (Grover - the noble parts donor)
> '78 Bus (Melissa) Patty's Bus