Greetings, My car works great, after I give it a jump start before leaving. And Sometimes after that I can turn it off for a small amount of time. So what is broken? My battery or my alternator?
2006-09-07 13:43:47 · 35 answers · asked by lilyanne 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
you have a short or you are draining your power somewhere,you can have your charging system tested and see where you are losing power. you can go to your local dealer or any auto parts store and they will test it for you.
2006-09-07 13:58:33 · answer #1 · answered by karen m 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you tried recharging your battery? Will it hold the charge? Can you fully charge it? If so, it is the alternator; if not, it is the battery. Do you have a friend (or a friend of a friend!) who is mechanically minded? Ask them to have a look.
If you do not know someone, a new battery is much cheaper than a new alternator. Buy a new battery and see how you get on! If it flattens again, it is the alternator. If it doesn't, it was the battery!
(it sounds sexist but I am presuming you are female and therefore do not trust garages, believing they will rip you off! I am in your boat if that is the case! I get my husband or father to sort these sorts of things out, but the new battery option is what I would do if they were not around! Having said that, I found Kwik Fit excellent when I had a problem with my exhaust - they just changed the part that was bust, they did not try to get me to have a total exhaust system - which is what I thought was necessary! I was very impressed!)
2006-09-07 14:00:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Battery.
the car will run on the alternator output when it has started even if the Battery is dead, Alternator failure would cause car to stop almost as soon as the jump leads were removed.
Sounds like your battery charges a bit but rapidly discharges.
Buy a big second hand battery from a breakers yard before you burn your alternator out, as the regulator has difficulty judging the voltage without the stability provided by a battery, In extremis over voltage could blow your bulbs and fry electronic control units.
never run with the battery dis connected.
2006-09-07 15:48:01 · answer #3 · answered by "Call me Dave" 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe you have a problem so simple that everybody is overlooking the obvious! Check the battery connections for corrosion, - If it is a GM with side terminals, the first thing you have to do is get the "Plus" terminal off (which sometimes isn't easy, because they corrode on so bad that it ruins the battery post getting them out! On top post batteries get a cup of water and a couple teaspoons of baking soda(mixed) and pour it on both terminals (mostly positive term.) If you have the headlights turned on ahead of time, - no light shows, and then lights come on, (and car may start then-depending on how good the connection is now). You know you have dirty terminals (take them off and clean- soda water works good)
Generally battrery positive, (and sometimes negative too)will have a bunch of "fuzz" groing on and around it - greenish is corroded copper, whitish is corroded lead!
I you have gone to the store or something and the battery won't crank car, (dead - no headlights or anything) - try Coke, pepsi or some such cola on positive terminal, it will usually get you home- where it is easier to do cleanup work! Water works with moderate results - after about 3-5 minutes.
Note: battery with excessive corrosion may not charge properly, causing you to blame the battery, - or the alternator -- causing you to spend money un-nescessarily before it finally gets to the REAL problem!
2006-09-07 15:02:00 · answer #4 · answered by guess78624 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be your alternator, your battery, or even a current draw like a dome light that stays on all night. Or even all of the above. You should start out by having your battery tested. Most auto parts places do that for free, then once you have it running, take the car back to the same parts place and have them test the alternator for free. If both of those are OK, and the problem still exists, start pulling fuses to find the current draw. Good luck.
2006-09-07 13:49:44 · answer #5 · answered by Just a guy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Could be the battery or alternator. It could also be a wire shorting out somewhere, causing it to drain the battery. Could also be that you just need to clean the battery posts and connections, try this first by removing the cables from the posts, then clean using a wire brush or sandpaper and wash off any corrosion using baking soda and water. Or it could be that the battery cables are corroded, defective or bad connection and no longer working properly.
2006-09-07 14:00:49 · answer #6 · answered by Leadfoot 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like your alternator - or your battery - or both. If your battery starts the car for a short while after stopping, then I reckon it needs charging or replacing. On the other hand, if the alternator isn't charging it, then it's probably the alternator.
2006-09-07 13:58:18 · answer #7 · answered by djmarky13 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you turn your car on if it makes a clicking noise from the engine it usally means the alternator is busted but try replacing the battery first to see if that was the only problem b/c it could be both.
2006-09-07 13:53:17 · answer #8 · answered by gerry4756 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be one or the other no joke jump starting every day I would of tested the battery by now & the alternator their are places that test them for free of charge
2006-09-07 13:50:31 · answer #9 · answered by sugarbdp1 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your ignition light goes out when you start the car it will be the battery but if it stays on its not charging so it will be the alternator also make sure your alternator belt is ok
2006-09-11 08:18:44 · answer #10 · answered by scott j 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Starter, Alternator, battery,
2006-09-07 13:49:16 · answer #11 · answered by Southern Sweetie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋