something is draining the battery or the alternator, the lights where dim on the inside of the car before it shut off. And then8 hours later it started up again and drove for about 10 minutes or less before it died out again.
2006-07-07 21:44:26 · 12 answers · asked by exotic 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Check the voltage regulator.
2006-07-07 21:48:26 · answer #1 · answered by xtowgrunt 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have not given the make, model, or engine. However,
Assuming:
1) The New Battery is good.
2)The New alternator is installed correctly and the voltage regulator is in in the alternator so it is also new.( and functional )
3) The belt is in good shape and not slipping.
There is a 'Fuse link' (looks like a wire) from the alternator to the battery. They are not long ( 5-6 inches) and are usually molded into the battery cable ( looks like a second red (smaller wire) molded into the larger positive usually red wire connected to the battery. They can be the red wire right at the alternator.
IF this Fuse link has blown ( become an open circuit) your alternator will not charge the battery. They can blow or open without showing on the outside of the wire.
The symptoms will be exactly what you describe.
Get a battery charger connected to the battery
Charge the battery completely
Start the car and drive to an Autozone, or OReilly's (sp)
let them check the charging system for you...only takes a few minutes.
If the problem is a 'fuse link' it can be fixed very easily, you just splice a new one around the bad one.
It is very difficult answering your question precisely with practically no specific information.
Good luck: Grumpy
2006-07-08 05:18:02 · answer #2 · answered by Grumpy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first thing you should have tried is take the battery leads of while the car is running. This Will tell you if the alternator or generator is working..but some cars have a regulator that isn't built into the alternator or generator. What this does is keeps the car from sucking the juice straight from the battery. Its a basic
relay type device.
2006-07-08 04:50:30 · answer #3 · answered by Dark Knight 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1-Are the lights pulsing when the is running?-A-if so then the voltage Realtor is bad.
2-do you hear a loud whining noise when the car is ruining?-A-then the voltage is over charging the battery cause it to lose power faster by making to HOT.
3-when the is car NOT running feel of the belt see if loose.-A-then the belt needs to be tightened.
4-There may be a DEAD short in the wiring you can tell by after dark deconeck the ground lead and then touch back to the batter post if you see Sparks then you have a dead short.-A- most likely in a bulb some were in the car check to see if you have bulb that's not working any more"like the dome light maybe"?
2006-07-08 05:00:15 · answer #4 · answered by wv02m 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Same thing happened to my son. His alternator light wasn't coming on, but the new battery went dead. I told him to take it to the parts store where they can check it right on the car, and discovered the alternator was only putting out enough juice to keep the light off, so we put a new alternator (not rebuilt) on and it's been working fine. I've had problems with rebuilt starters and alternators, so I stay away from them.
2006-07-08 04:54:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
all the above answers are correct but the bottom line is...the alternator should always charge the battery whenever you start your engine ... so i would advise you to a home test
1/ start your engine
2/ take off the positive wire off the battery terminal , if the engine shuts off or stalls that means the alternator is not charging the battery.
i would then advise you to then get a professional eletrician to take a look at it.
if it's not the alternator then you go to plan (b)
::: get someone to look at loose connections, switches, fuses, relays etc...
2006-07-08 05:41:03 · answer #6 · answered by sammy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check to make sure the switch that turns off the trunk light is working. Happened to me. Everytime I parked it the light in the trunk was still on draining the battery, you'd never know because you can't see it when you walk away.
2006-07-08 04:47:51 · answer #7 · answered by Rare Indigo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that happen to me too I bought a new Ford car worst misstake of my life it did the same thing as you said the battery died after two weeks new charging sysytem replaced same thing and then found out it was the battery and it was ok but only after the extra parts that I hod to pay for
2006-07-08 06:16:12 · answer #8 · answered by Paul G 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
amp test your new parts with an ohm meter and see what kind of reading you are getting.
make sure you did the work properly and attached everything securely.
some cars require a heavier amp like 80, 120, 130. if you are driving an SUV, you could need a higher one. or if you blast your music all the time with alot of stereo equipment.
2006-07-08 04:49:53 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Crank the car up take the + cable loose if it goes dead you have a alternator that is bad they can be bad right out of the box
2006-07-08 04:51:46 · answer #10 · answered by pegleg 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋