I have had to jump start my vehicle twice in 3 days. It immediately starts and may drive it and when i shut it off, it will not start, came back after work and it started. It started with no problem the next day. Today it started this morning but not this afternoon. Is the battery going out?
2007-10-04 10:42:34 · 9 answers · asked by Moe 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Yes. Your battery is bad. Sounds like one of the internal plates is loose and causing an internal short. Replace your battery asap. Don't keep jump starting, as a battery in this condition releases explosive gases.
2007-10-04 10:48:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Either the battery is bad or there is a load on it somewhere you may not know about. Are there any lights/accesories that may have been left on?
It could also be a symptom of bad battery connections. Try unhooking each battery cable and cleaning the battery post and the inside of the cable connector. If the connection isn't real good, it's possible that the jump start gives you enough juice to jump over the bad connection. The intermittant nature leads me to think it's the connections at the battery.
When it does start on it's own, does the starter sound real weak or normal? If it sounds normal, I'd point at the battery connections. If it's real weak, you might need a new battery.
To check for an unknown load that may be draining your battery when you're parked, unhook one battery cable and then hook it back up, watching for a spark. (Caution--there's a possibility of the spark igniting some gasses near the battery...don't get too close with your face) There should not be much of a spark...maybe a really tiny one. If you see a good-sized spark, there may be something in the car that's sucking out the juice while you're parked. Start looking around.
2007-10-04 10:52:55 · answer #2 · answered by Eric P 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Places like Auto Zone or Advance Auto will test it for you free of charge. There's no use wasting money until you know for sure. It could be your alternator. We drove around all day last Sunday, stopping and starting several times. Then we stopped at a grocery store, went in for about 15 minutes, came back out and the motor wouldn't even turn over, and couldn't even jump it off! It was the battery though but usually they do give you a little warning ahead of time. Not mine though.
2007-10-04 10:54:42 · answer #3 · answered by Tim E 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be a bad battery, starter or battery cable. You can take the battery to an auto parts store and have it checked. You can also do the same with a starter, but it's a little trickier to get off depending on make and model of car. Battery cables are usually pretty easy to remove. Oh! I almost forgot about the loose belt. It could be slipping.
2007-10-04 10:49:36 · answer #4 · answered by Tom Thumb 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Remove the battery terminals and clean them and the posts till they shine. Make sure they are tight when put back on. Check your alternator connections for loose or frayed wire. If you go to auto zone or similar parts store they will check the battery and alt. output for free. Sounds to me like you got a bad battery connection.
2007-10-04 10:54:48 · answer #5 · answered by tronary 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
might just be dirty connections...but for the price of a battery and new terminal ends why take the chance just get a new battery and ends it'll be less than 100 bucks if ya can turn 2 wrenches on your own ...winters almost here and ya wont have to mess with it
2007-10-04 10:51:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your Vehicle is showing it. Better get a new Battery- while your can STILL drive to get one!!! :)
2007-10-04 10:51:36 · answer #7 · answered by Joseph, II 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it's 4 or more years old, you need a new one regardless, especially with the winter coming in some states.
2007-10-04 10:52:48 · answer #8 · answered by bobweb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
iT COULD BE LOW WATER IN YOUR BATTERY,Or your wires are lose on your starter.
2007-10-04 11:16:08 · answer #9 · answered by ja A 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋