my car was completly dead so i got a jump, but it still wont start. the starter turned over the first time, but when i tried again there was no power again
2006-12-10 08:20:27 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Most all parts house have battery and alt. and starter testers, BUT the accuracy of that test depends on the operator!!
-also repair shops can diagnose for a fee.
It could be the alt. that killed the battery,or just a bad battery. Batteries CAN just "go bad!!"(they short out internally)
but it could also be a short to ground draining your battery over time.
how much time between jump off and "when i tried again"?? overnight?
easy way to check for short to ground battery drain is to take test light - disconnect ground side cable and clamp wire from test light to cable- now with key off, all lights off and doors closed, touch test light to neg battery terminal. if light lights up, something somewhere is still on! start by checking(disconnecting) all interior lights(dont forget glove box, trunk light, and underhood!!) if it doesnt turn up you may have to take it to a shop.
if light does not light up, you may need to have battery and alt checked at shop or somewhere like Advance Auto Parts.
2006-12-10 08:43:27 · answer #1 · answered by smallblock_chevrolet 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take your battery to get tested, a dead cell can cause problems. If you can jump it off and run it, turn the headlights on. If they brighten when you rev the motor then the alt is good. Some may tell you to pull the batt. cable off with the motor running, but most new cars need the completed circuit to run, without it they die. Good luck.
2006-12-10 16:24:44 · answer #2 · answered by mad_mav70 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On a 12 volt electrical system, your altenator should have an output of about 14 volts. As stated previously, Autozone will check this foe free.
2006-12-10 16:28:20 · answer #3 · answered by guru 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If its an older model car, you can take the battery cable off of the battery, and if the car dies, its an alternator problem. If it doesn't, its a battery problem.
In newer model cars you may not be able to do this, and then your best bet is to take it to Auto Zone for a free test. :)
2006-12-10 16:30:03 · answer #4 · answered by lunartic5 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have a volt meter check the voltage across the batt +-.it should read about 13.5 car running. If it does its the batt. or starter is bad and needs 2 batterries to get it going.
2006-12-10 16:37:51 · answer #5 · answered by vincent c 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bad Battery, Replace Battery, if battery light is still on after replacing battery, alternator issue, battery light only comes on if below a certain voltage. which means it's not charging.
2006-12-10 16:26:54 · answer #6 · answered by stealth5033 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you should get a multi-testor and get the correct answers under the hood of your car---battery,,alternator,,batt cables,,and the belt that drives the alternator are all part of the start/charge system---if your car is important to you go and spend what you need to and get it fixed,,,,,,,,,,,,,,that's cheaper than a new car
2006-12-10 16:33:34 · answer #7 · answered by XTX 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it could be that the battery is bad or the cable from the battery to the starter is shorted.
2006-12-10 16:24:32 · answer #8 · answered by dolls7949 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to Autozone and have the alternator checked.It' free.
2006-12-10 16:24:57 · answer #9 · answered by gdwrnch40 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋