2004 Stratus R/T Coupe Alternator Problem?

[forchette49]

Within the past few months, my 2004 Stratus has been acting up, especially during night driving. My headlamps go from dim to bright repeatedly, my dashlights and internal lights do the same (with the red "brake" and "battery" lights turning on), my CD player/radio turns off and on repeatedly, and my engine sputters from time to time as well. I am now on my 7th battery in the past 5 years and my 3rd in the past year. This definitely sounded like a bad alternator to me... I have the Platinum 100,000 mile extended warranty from Chrysler and brought my car into them recently after coming out to an unstartable car one afternoon. They told me that the alternator, fuses, and wiring all check out, with only the car's battery failing testing (of course). They said they wouldn't replace the alternator because it was passing all of their tests and wasn't a broken product (yet). Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to resolve this issue?!? After browsing through a few threads I've come across terms such as "voltage regulators" and "alternator repair shops." Are these viable options for this issue or is it something different altogether? Or ould I brisng my car into an auto parts store for a more complete diagnostic check up as other threads have suggested? But, wouldn't the Chrysler shop have all the same equipment, as say Auto Zone, when they checked my car out the first time?!? Any help and/or advice on this issue would be greatly appreciated, thank you in advance!

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[gMatt82]

What engine do you have? Are you running any aftermarket items, ie radio system?

From experience, I had an alternator go bad, and that really sucked. Not for any chrysler car, because it was one, cold outside, and two everything electrical running was going off the battery from once the alternator was gone. You'd really notice it, like the blinkers really made things worse. I had to turn off the heat to stop the blower fan so I could make it home.

Anyways, from school, there isn't much to alternators. If you are handy, you could tear one down and probably clean up the contacts/brushes. Is it cold where you are? One thing to consider is the wiring could be a factor. Could be a defect in the wire that isn't affected until driving or under vibration. So you know any test while sitting would definitely provide false positives.

There are options there for you, a new battery would serve well. Cleaning up the alternator will help make it last longer. But after seeing you have changed the batter enough, I'd say it's something related to your charging circuit. What it is, I don't really know at the moment.