The car won't stay running when boosted. I originally thought it was the alternator, but considering it went dead while sitting in storage rather than while being used, I wonder if it just needs a new battery. How can I determine this without towing to a garage or buying a new battery it might not need?
2006-07-22 02:47:08 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Can they test the battery if I take it while the charge is drained?
2006-07-22 02:53:22 · update #1
It's PROBABLY the battery. Batteries will loose one percent of their charge per day just sitting.
If the battery sat for more than three months dead, the plates inside formed a scale on them that blocks the electrical charge.
Recharging the battery will do no good. If it will take a charge at all.
Don't get a jump start and use your car to charge it. That will ruin your alternator.
2006-07-22 03:04:50 · answer #1 · answered by Mr. KnowItAll 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have a 99% chance the battery is bad. If you have not tried charging it yet, do that. Or you can remove it and take it to AutoZone or Advance or any other big parts chains and they can charge it & test it for you. If a battery has a shorted cell it can kill the car even if the alternator is good. After sitting in storage it is most likely the battery is the culprit.
If I were in your shoes I would go buy a new battery anyway and just start from there... then you can drive your car to a parts store and have them test the battery and alternator together.
Good Luck
2006-07-22 09:59:01 · answer #2 · answered by ubet426 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get the car jump-started and take it to an autozone or other major car parts place. They can test the battery and the alternator without taking them off the car. And whichever one it is, you can then buy from them right there. I had the same problem, took it to autozone, they tested it, sold me the battery and installed it at no additional charge. I haven't had a problem since.
2006-07-22 09:52:28 · answer #3 · answered by Barbara 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Start the car and put a volt meter on the battery and see if it has 13 to 15 volts while running, If it doesn't its the alternator. Never disconnect a battery cable while the engine is running, it may damage computer components.
2006-07-22 11:21:29 · answer #4 · answered by kayef57 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It really sounds like the alternator. However, it would make sense to take it to a place like AutoZone or Advance and they can test the battery for free.
2006-07-22 09:52:20 · answer #5 · answered by Halo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some places you can take your battery into the store and they can check the battery for you. It might cost a little but it'd be worth it to know if it's really dead.
2006-07-22 09:51:28 · answer #6 · answered by chariot804 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when the car is running, if you disconnect the ground (black) terminal on the battery, it'll keep running if the alternator is good.
2006-07-22 09:51:57 · answer #7 · answered by Dagblastit 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
take the battery to sears, auto zone etc. they can test it and let you know if you need a new one
2006-07-22 09:50:26 · answer #8 · answered by bobsled 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are mobile mechanics in the yellow pages. They could tell you in just a few minutes.
2006-07-22 09:55:09 · answer #9 · answered by debi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋