My car has been sitting for about a week, I went to go start it and it had very little electrical power, not enough to start it. no power to the radio, could not roll down my windows etc... I don't think its the battery, because it is brand new.
2006-08-06 04:21:21 · 11 answers · asked by Terry 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Jump start the car and while it is running loosen the battery connectors from the battery and if the car keeps running without the battery hooked up the alternator is good.
2006-08-06 04:29:28 · answer #1 · answered by Thurston D 1 · 6⤊ 1⤋
If your battery is brand new and has little power left after a week of sitting idle, something is probably draining power from your battery while the engine is stopped. Charge the battery, then put an ammeter in line between the battery and the car's electrical system (positive lead). With the dome light(s) off, there should not be more than a fraction of an amp load on the battery. If the amps seem high, make sure there is nothing turned on, such as a radio, light, dashboard warning lights, etc. If nothing is running, the alternator itself might possibly be draining the battery. If the alternator is a "rotating-diode" or "brushless" type (vice a brush type), one of the diodes might be shorted and the alternator will need to be replaced.
When you start the car, check the terminal voltage at the battery. If it is not around 13.5-14 volts when the engine is above idle speed, then the alternator is probably bad.
2006-08-06 11:36:10 · answer #2 · answered by sandislandtim 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, your battery has been drained or was never charged up to start with. When you replaced your battery, you should have had a test on your charging system (alternator) to make sure it's supplying at least 14 volts to charge the battery. You can buy an inexpensive battery charger to charge your battery over night. Disconnect one of your battery cables and hook the battery charger to your battery terminals.
Then your shop technician needs to make sure that your car is not drawing more than 1/4 ampere (250 milliamperes) from your battery after it has been parked for an hour or more.
2006-08-06 11:33:33 · answer #3 · answered by bobweb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
definately sounds like the alternator. my mom's car had a good battery but a bad alternator and if by some chance it did start and run for a while, the radio and clock would start fading out. the lights wouldn't work, and the battery light would come on. this is because the alternator is what resupplies your battery with the energy it looses. it's like a recharger. you may have to recharge the battery for a little while after you change alternators. hope you get it working! :D
2006-08-06 11:31:41 · answer #4 · answered by Stinky 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your convinced it's the alternator then when you get it started pull the positive cable off the battery. if the alt. is good then it will produce enough current for the car to run on . If the alt is dead and you pull the positive cable the electrical system will have no current at all and the engine will stop running immediately.
2006-08-06 11:53:47 · answer #5 · answered by CHUPATHINGY 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take the battery to a parts store and have it tested, most have a tester. If the battery is good odds are it is your alternator.
One other thing...you mentioned the battery was new. You may want to verify all the connections are clean and good...having a poor connection to the post can seem like a battery/alternator is dying as well.
2006-08-06 11:27:16 · answer #6 · answered by smutz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just cause you bought a new battery doesn't mean it's good
Get the car started with a boost and have the battery tested.
By the way did you buy this battery at
WalMart,,,,
2006-08-06 11:30:54 · answer #7 · answered by Vulcan 1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some batteries can come bad, take the car and battery to a auto parts store i.e autozone, advance, and they will check both for you at no charge.
2006-08-06 11:28:19 · answer #8 · answered by Stacy C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lol funny, well what has happened is because of the vehicle sitting it has drained the battery. charge it and start it and then if the volt light/gauge is on or not showing voltage then i would check the alternator
2006-08-06 11:26:22 · answer #9 · answered by Christian 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the alternator has an electro magnet on the back center of it.
a quick test to see if alternator is workng. when the car is running touch a steel object to the magnet. if magnet works---the alt. is operating properly. if magnet doesnt attract--alt is not working.
2006-08-06 11:29:31 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋