What does this sound like?(car problem)

[Mears]

I left my lights on a week ago and my battery died. I had a friend jump it, but as soon as it would started and I disconnected the cables, it would slowly lose charge and putter out. So we connected them and left his car running for almost 15 minutes and I was able to drive home. I left the car running outside thinking that the alternator would charge up the battery. Of course it didn't and it stopped running again. Today I tightened the clamps on the battery posts and tried jumping it again, but I ran into the same damn problem. The battery is less than a month old so I'm a little skeptical that that is what is wrong and I thought that generally alternators would push too much current when they went bad instead of none at all.

 

[rudeguy]

turn signal fluid is low

 

[specktre]

sounds like your battery is dead, or alternator is dead.

 

[notfred]

alternator is dead.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Mears
I left my lights on a week ago and my battery died. I had a friend jump it, but as soon as it would started and I disconnected the cables, it would slowly lose charge and putter out. So we connected them and left his car running for almost 15 minutes and I was able to drive home. I left the car running outside thinking that the alternator would charge up the battery. Of course it didn't and it stopped running again. Today I tightened the clamps on the battery posts and tried jumping it again, but I ran into the same damn problem. The battery is less than a month old so I'm a little skeptical that that is what is wrong and I thought that generally alternators would push too much current when they went bad instead of none at all.

Do you have a volt meter?

If so, connect it to the battery and start the car and see what it says, should be between High 13 and low 14 volts.

But sounds like the charging sys. is bad. Most likely bad Alt.

 

[NightTrain]

A voltmeter is the best test but absent one...if it's running and you disconnect a battery cable and it cuts off, the alternator is bad.

 

Grab a Volt Ohm meter, with the vehicle off, battery voltage should be between 11.9 and 12.9, start the vehicle, battery voltage must be a minimum of 13.8 and a maximum of 14.7.

If it is not, you cooked your alternator, by the way, charging a dead battery is a sure fore way to shorten the life of your alternator.

 

[resinboy]

I know Roger, we have to teach these kids that an alternator maintains a state of charge, they are NOT a battery charger 🙂

Resinboy

 

[CraigRT]

Could be one of 2 things... battery or alternator... alternator COULD be feeding to a battery that won't accept a charge. or the alternator won't charge the good battery cause it's f00bared. 😛

 

[Analog]

Originally posted by: Roger
Grab a Volt Ohm meter, with the vehicle off, battery voltage should be between 11.9 and 12.9, start the vehicle, battery voltage must be a minimum of 13.8 and a maximum of 14.7.

If it is not, you cooked your alternator, by the way, charging a dead battery is a sure fore way to shorten the life of your alternator.

yup

 

[N8Magic]

As Roger said, never EVER use your alternator to charge a battery that has been drained.

You probably burnt out your alternator trying to charge up the battery. :-\

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: NightTrain
A voltmeter is the best test but absent one...if it's running and you disconnect a battery cable and it cuts off, the alternator is bad.

That does not work on a lot of newwer F/I cars, and also puts a load on the Alt., that is not needed. SO DON'T DO IT.

 

[Tominator]

Originally posted by: Roger
Grab a Volt Ohm meter, with the vehicle off, battery voltage should be between 11.9 and 12.9, start the vehicle, battery voltage must be a minimum of 13.8 and a maximum of 14.7.

If it is not, you cooked your alternator, by the way, charging a dead battery is a sure fore way to shorten the life of your alternator.

Or, just charge the battery and drive it to the local Autozone, or you favorite chain store. They will diagnose the chargeing system for FREE! Then decide on the next move...

 

[SnapIT]

Originally posted by: Roger
Grab a Volt Ohm meter, with the vehicle off, battery voltage should be between 11.9 and 12.9, start the vehicle, battery voltage must be a minimum of 13.8 and a maximum of 14.7.

If it is not, you cooked your alternator, by the way, charging a dead battery is a sure fore way to shorten the life of your alternator.

I agree, but if you are changing your alternator, go for the originals... way better IMHO...