My batery died i guess, so i got a jump. drove to my house. came back out to go somewhere else, and it wouldnt start.
2007-07-08 07:19:53 · 10 answers · asked by neil a 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
They easy way to check is to start the car, turn your headlights on, then disconnect one of the leads on the battery. If the car shuts off, your alternator is bad. If not, it's the battery.
The right way is to go to your local auto parts store. They usually have a load tester, and will test this for free. Also, if you have a volt meter... if your voltage at your battery is over 13.8 volts (aprox) while your car is running, your alternator is good. With the car off you will see that number drop fairly rapidly.
If you don't have a maintenance-free battery, check the water level for the battery. There are usually two rectangle caps on top of the battery that should easily pop off with a flat head screw driver. If the water level doesn't reach the bottom of the plastic tabs that protrude down, refill with (preferably) distilled water to the bottom of those tabs. This could save you from having to buy a new battery. In these hotter months it is fairly common.
Good Luck!
2007-07-08 07:33:10 · answer #1 · answered by SubNRG 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Signs Alternator Is Going Out
2016-10-06 07:36:27 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
a weather change can zap a battery that you thought was great for years ... hot - cold - cold to warm -- no rhyme or reason -- So you got a jump and drove home on the alternator power --- now is the time to go to the battery store and get the alt. checked for free and buy a new battery ... a small hand-held multi-tester (electronics) maybe sears or ace hdware for less than $15.00 should always tell you if it's the batt or alt -- and you can learn to use that tool for different stuff too..... look at wal-mart for a battery and the warranty is good at all their stores and while there check for the M_Tester
2007-07-08 07:32:37 · answer #3 · answered by XTX 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
first of all i think according to my recallection of events that happened to me.
my alternator kep going out usually in the hottest parts of the year u guess it in the summer,but in the winter when i needed all lights on especially the fog lights.since my car was all power windos electronic ignition.suddenly the engine would start missing every now and then .by trial and error i kep replacing the alternator the problem were the cables that transfer juice from the battery to the rest of the vehicle.
The older your car is the more resistance there is in the wires.therefore if your car came with 110 amp alternator u should up to 120 to push more juice through those old wires.on top of that if you let it this problem persist you will end up replacing your battery.word
2007-07-08 07:36:23 · answer #4 · answered by ? 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like a battery. If it wouldn't start, started after a jump, drove fine to your house, and then wouldn't start again after being shut off, it sounds like the battery is not holding a charge. If it was the alternator, you would have been losing power while driving. Buy a new battery.
2007-07-08 07:23:57 · answer #5 · answered by Steph Gas 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok,quick answer. if battery is dead,have alternator checked. a bad alternator will kill a new battery,and a bad battery will kill a new alternator.always have alternator checked before buying a new battery.good luck.
2007-07-08 10:37:41 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would check the battery first. if that's bad the alternator cant charge it. if it is the alternator then usually the alt or gen light will come on.
2007-07-08 07:25:35 · answer #7 · answered by george 2 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Start the car and put all your lights on,put the interior light on,let the car settle down to tick over,then rev the car,the interior light should brighten,if not check your fan belt is tight,and the wires to the altenator are in place,it is useful to have a small test meter,then you can check if anything is going into your battery,from the altenator,by putting the leads to your battery terminals.
2007-07-08 07:35:16 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
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Dodge dakota have alot of problems with their serpentine belt tensioners. They stick a a position were the belt is not tight, This causes the alt not to charge correctly. Replace the tensioner, you may need to charge battery.
2016-04-04 02:30:14 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
make sure your battery is fully charged if not your alternator is charging your battery like it is suppose too
2007-07-08 07:24:59 · answer #10 · answered by rich b 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋