# 2000 Mazda Protege - Alternator or battery

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-mazda-protege-alternator-or-battery/179903>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** mazda\
**Created:** [October 11, 2021, 8:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-mazda-protege-alternator-or-battery/179903 "2021-10-11T20:19:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Reb13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@Reb13](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Reb13)\
**Post date:** [October 11, 2021, 8:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-mazda-protege-alternator-or-battery/179903/1 "2021-10-11T20:19:16Z")

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Headlights going dim and wipers going at slower rate than usual while driving in rain  
Car died and had to be boosted off four times before being towed to destination. Is this alternator or bad battery?

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**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\
**Post date:** [October 11, 2021, 8:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-mazda-protege-alternator-or-battery/179903/2 "2021-10-11T20:39:17Z")

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it could be either. you should first get the battery tested. a lot of auto parts will do this for free if you bring the battery their. or if you have a multmeter…  
[How to Test If Your Car Battery or the Alternator Is Bad? (itstillruns.com)](https://itstillruns.com/test-car-battery-alternator-bad-5979061.html)

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**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\
**Post date:** [October 11, 2021, 8:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-mazda-protege-alternator-or-battery/179903/3 "2021-10-11T20:41:07Z")

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[Part 1 -Testing a BAD Alternator: Symptoms and Diagnosis (easyautodiagnostics.com)](https://easyautodiagnostics.com/misc-index/how-to-test-a-bad-alternator-1)

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**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\
**Post date:** [October 11, 2021, 10:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-mazda-protege-alternator-or-battery/179903/4 "2021-10-11T22:14:23Z")

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**Yes!** Bad battery, bad alternator, or both.  
If battery was bad you may have now damaged you alternator.  
If alternator was bad your battery has been severely discharged and may no longer hold a charge.

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**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2021, 3:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-mazda-protege-alternator-or-battery/179903/5 "2021-10-13T15:24:26Z")

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If this is happening primarily in the rain, your serpentine belt may be slipping.

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**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan2)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2021, 10:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-mazda-protege-alternator-or-battery/179903/6 "2021-10-13T22:35:59Z")

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It could also be a bad ground. Dirty battery connections can also cause this. To a lesser extent, a bad connection at the body to engine ground, body end.

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**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\
**Post date:** [October 14, 2021, 12:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-mazda-protege-alternator-or-battery/179903/7 "2021-10-14T00:46:27Z")

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A backyard method for testing the alternator. Turn the key to the RUN position. (engine not running)  
Touch the alternator pulley with the tip of a screwdriver. You should feel a magnetic attraction at the screwdriver tip. If so, this should mean the alternator is good.

After that, check cable connections and if necessary the connection between the alternator and battery. There should be a fusible link (part of that alt/batt connection) inside the underhood fuse/relay box and should be high amperage. Check all of them.