Cavalier 94 No lights on the dash board and it can not start?

Answer 1

I'd have to say your alternator needs replacing. And your battery probably does too. This is a relatively easy job to do yourself. Plus it will save you about $2-300. The mechanics would charge over $300 parts and labor to fix this! If you do decide to take it to a shop, please find one that will put on parts that you purchase yourself from another vendor! And don't take it to a dealer!!! They will rob you, trust me!

Before you decide to fix anything, and if you are able to get your car started, take it to Advance Auto or another parts store and have a battery test done to see if your battery has gone bad or needs a charge. Plus they can run a series of tests on your engine's electrical system to see if the alternator is operating with a proper voltage. If I remember correctly, the voltage for a good alternator should be 12-14 volts. The store should do these tests at no cost to you.

You can find a decent remanufactured alternator for around $80 - $130 at an auto parts store or online. A new battery will run you about $60. You will need a decent socket wrench (ratchet) set to do this, plus a medium-sized breaker bar with either a 14 mm or 9/16" socket to loosen and maneuver the serpentine belt tensioner pulley ( Advance Auto has a belt tensioner tool which they rent out for about $30; you get your money back when you return it). I believe you'll need a 1/2" socket to undo the bolts holding the alternator to its bracket (other socket sizes will be needed for smaller bolts involved...it's trial and error at that point...I can't remember off the top of my head what socket sizes you'll otherwise need). WD-40 comes in handy for loosening up those tight bolts, and you'll almost certainly need some pumice-based hand cleaner...this can be a dirty job!

This job is a relative piece of cake (at least you'll think so once it's all over with). A Chilton manual for your model car is the best reference for repairs I have come across. They run from $15-$30 online (ebay is a great place to look for one!)

The job basically involves removing the serpentine belt from the alternator, removing the alternator bolts, loosening the bolts for the bracket's heat shield and the bracket itself (notice I said "loosen", not "remove"), swiveling the bracket up and away from the alternator. Then you remove the electrical wiring (just 2 cables!) from the alternator, installing your new one, and doing everything I just said in reverse. It's a little more complicated than that (you'll see once you get started) but don't be discouraged...common sense will tell you what to do. Just two things: Only do this work when the engine is completely cold, and make sure that the electrical wires are put back within the heat shield when you put your new alternator on. The wires are very close to the exhaust manifold, which gets extremely hot, and you don't want those wires to melt!)

You can do this!!! This is FUN!!! I bet that if you fix this yourself, you'll be so proud and exhilarated that you'll start to wonder what else you can fix :) Just be safe, above all, and try to have the manual handy and an experienced pair of eyes over your shoulder. Go have at it! Best of luck!