I have a 93 Grand AM..bought it 3 days ago. Within 24 hours of buying it died on me. After getting an oil change the battery light came on and right before it died the ABS light came on. When it died I was going 55mph at night and it just started to slow down. I kept pumping the gas to get past the bridge i was on. It was jerking a lot. I tried to jump start it but I only got like 20 feet. I put a new battery in and it got me home at least. When I bought this car..the alternator and battery are new. Soooo I'm not sure what's wrong...maybe an electrical problem??
2006-10-27 08:17:56 · 10 answers · asked by godschic02 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
After you put the battery in the vehicle did it drive alright? (I don't know how far "it got me home" is)
If it drove fine for a few miles after replacing the battery, it's highly likely that it's either the alternator or the battery again.
If your battery light is not on after replacing the battery then you should be alright, however, I'm guessing that your battery light is still on. In that case your alternator has gone out and it needs to be replaced again. (The reason I think it's still on is you said you jumped the car and it got you about 20 feet). When you jumped the car it gave the original battery just enough juice to get you moving, when you disconnected, the alternator of the car you jumped the car from was no longer charging your battery.
I would say most likely the alternator has gone bad again. Remove alternator and take it to a parts store to have it tested. They will test for free at most parts stores.
2006-10-27 08:27:04 · answer #1 · answered by hsueh010 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sounds like the alternator to me. Even though the alternator was recently replaced, I wouldn't rule it out.
If the car starts, place a volt meter across the battery terminals. It should read from 15 - 16 volts while the car is running. The volt meter should read 12 volts while the car is off. If the voltage is less than 15 volts, take it to an auto parts store and have it tested.
While the car is running, touch the battery cables to see it they are warm. Be extremely careful of moving parts. A warm battery cable means there is a problem with that cable and should be replaced.
Disconnect the battery cables and inspect the cables and battery terminals for corrosion. Clean them with a mixture of baking soda and water with a wire brush. Be careful not to complete a connection between the battery terminals. Wear eye protection.
Do not connect the battery terminals back to the battery yet.
Inspect where the negative battery cable connects to ground, usually on the engine block. Make sure it is tight and free of corrosion
Follow the positive battery cable to the starter. Make sure it is tight and free of corrosion.
Reconnect the battery cables.
If the car will start, drive it to the parts store. The alternator can be tested on the car.
Most of the major parts stores like Advance, Auto Zone, Napa, etc will do this for free. I suggest calling ahead to make sure.
2006-10-27 08:56:22 · answer #2 · answered by Mad Jack 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
definite a radio can drain the battery if there's a short!! placed the alternator back in value the battery and commence it!! it is a trick on a similar time as the vehicle is working unhook the floor cable(that's the single with the minus on it) from the battery, if the vehicle remains on then your alternator is physically powerful!! in case your battery isn't any solid it won't carry a cost interior the 1st place!! Is the vehicle no longer commencing if it is been sitting for an afternoon or 2? even though it replaced into working wonderful formerly that then you definately've a short someplace interior the vehicle it is draining the battery!! it is perplexing and stressful to discover a short in a motor vehicle so for you to take it to a mechanic it is physically powerful with electric powered on motor vehicle!! solid luck!!!
2016-10-03 00:50:21 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds as if the car is working however it keeps dieing on you. By any chance did you put gas in your car that day? You might have ran into a bad patch of gas. This will clog up your fuel filter and cause your car to jerk like that. If you car ends up dieing on you...your abs, check engine, battery light all will go on. This is normal when a call dies. It's sort of like turning your key on the on position.
If you feel it has nothing to do with bad gas...you might want to check out your spark plugs, spark plug wires, and distributor cap. If these got wet...it will cause jerking to happen on the car.
If I was you I would just go to a mechanic and have them check it out.
2006-10-27 21:59:34 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok your battery is new the problem is that your alternator is not working, is too easy to know if the alternator is the problem.
Turn on engine and with all lights off and the engine running disconnect the positive terminal of the battery, if the engine stop when you do it the alternator (or his regulator) is the problem
2006-10-27 09:09:56 · answer #5 · answered by isidoro321 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That doesn't sound good.
That could almost def. mean you blew a piston, which means new motor.
But it could also be the distrubuter which you can get for like 75 bucks at a junkyard.
Other Possibilities - a miss - could be the engine control computer
Did the car backfire when it began to shut off?
See the thing is, if the battery was new, it could've gotten your car home, even if the alternator went bad. And it goes both ways, your alternator could ahve got you home even if the battery was dead, but if you shut the motor off you were done.
But I'm guessing my first two answers. Good luck ma'am
[edit my battery ran 53 miles to get me home, when my alternator went out. talk about a taking a lot to kill off a diehard battery =) ]
2006-10-27 08:20:33 · answer #6 · answered by computer_glitch_uhoh 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Read your question and you've pretty much answered it! Sounds like alternator or electrical problem stemming from the alternator!
With an alternator it won't run with a dead battery but with a generator, it would! However, I'm not saying the battery is the problem but rather it isn't getting charged so you are running it dead with headlights etc at night. The problem lies within the alternator itself or the re-charging circuit. Remanufactured alternators and starters is not the right choice in my book! I always replace with NEW!!!!!!
2006-10-27 08:22:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Battery and alternator problem, replace both should take care of it.
2006-10-27 12:27:33 · answer #8 · answered by stealth5033 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
might want to check the distributor
2006-10-27 08:22:01 · answer #9 · answered by Slappin 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yep
2006-10-27 08:25:50 · answer #10 · answered by cng 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋