Power issues at idle in cold weather, HELP! Options

[GriffGirl]

Okay so it's cold - unseasonably cold here this week. This morning my car kind of turned over "sluggishly" when I came out to start it this morning, but it did start on the first try. 25 minutes later when I arrived to pick up my friend to go to work, as I sat idling the battery light came on so I gassed it because I know that means alternator. Well probably a minute or two later it did it again but the radio and accessories shut off, but went back on again when I gassed it. This continued a few more times for the next 5 minutes, and when I went to drive away it did it one more time while I was driving to the end of the block but hasn't done it again since.

Is this just a cold weather thing wreaking havoc on my battery, or is my alternator going out? I've lived where it's cold before and don't remember this ever happening. I think my battery might be on the older side, although when I had the clutch replaced the battery died so I had it tested and it tested real strong on cold cranking amps. Anyone have any ideas? Should I worry?

This post has been edited by GriffGirl: Dec 17, 2008 - 6:54 PM

[GriffGirl]

Well the ride home last night was kinda sucky, that damn battery light flashing off and on for the duration of my EPIC long commute because half an inch of snow around here brings this city to its knees... anyway so I made my way directly to Autozone to have the battery and the alternator checked and sure as sh1t the thing completely dies in front of Autozone.

Got a jump start and had the battery checked; good cold cranking amps still. Alternator - not so good. "Bad solenoid" is the readout. Sounds like I get to learn how to do my alternator after work today when it's good and snowy and 25º out. Good times!

BTW no, the belt doesn't make any noise. I'll be replacing it anyway though when I do the alt later today and tomorrow. (gotta pull it before getting the new one because my broke ass is NOT paying a core charge!)