My cars battery keeps dying.?

Question

I have to get a jump start every morning for it to work. After the jumpstart, the car works well through out the whole day. Unless I turn the car off and put my emergency lights on, then I need a Jumpstart again. I cleaned the connectors with hot water yesterday to clean off all the white acid on it, and it still did the same thing. Do I need a new battery? or is it the alternator or something else?

I have a 98 Toyota Corolla CE. Just had a new starter installed, and I did have sound system, but I removed it because I thought that was the problem. And the Emergency lights were on because I had to stop somewhere to load and unload things from my car. I had to call AAA for a jump. The guy said it would mostlikely be dirty connectors. And said to clean it with hot water.

Answer 1

Go to the nearest autozone or somewhere that'll check your battery for free. Then you'll know if you need a battery or an alternator. I had this problem with my car when we bought it, we replaced the battery only to find out it was the alternator. Just find someone to check it for free.

Answer 2

Another question which does not fullfil the requirement of providing details.
Year, make, model of the car would be helpful so that we could tell you if there is actually a known problem with that particular car, but, ok...

1 Hot water to clean the battery connectors, not such a good idea. Use a can of soda water, it cleans them much better and disolves the corrosion.

take your battery out (all the way) and inspect it for any cracks or leaks that might be happening. This could be one reason why you are having this problem.

Have there been any electronic equipment added to the car which are connected directly to the battery itself? If so, make sure it is not grounded to the vehicle itself as that would cause a constant flow of electricity.

Answer 3

attempt leaving it set with one battery cable disconnected! See if it " runs down" ! you have good battery, and good alternator and nevertheless have lifeless battery generally! --- If somethng in automobile utilising skill while automobile parked! in case you're taking an previous headlignt and connect between battery and cable on one area, -- the bulb will illuminate rather good whether that's leaking adequate skill to run battery down in approximately 24 hours! that's with regard to the oldest piece of "try kit" there is! in case you commence disconnecting, and turning off stuff until eventually the easy is going out, (or is basically authentic dim- making filiament reddish).... If laptop geared up,clock, and radio with reminiscence and this form of stuff, it is going to pull an extremely small volume of present day to maintain memorys! this might take somewhat it sluggish to charm to battery all the way down to the place it relatively is not any longer in a position to crank engine to commence it! ...connect a pair 3' wires to bulb, and you will placed it the place that's straightforward to work out at the same time as working interior automobile! shop it while executed, -- it is likewise smart for locating shorts that blow fuses, -- basically connect particularly than fuse it relatively is blowing, ---- as long as easy keeps to be lit ,- it continues to be shorted! while easy is going out, you have reached element of short, - then it relatively is in common terms finding the place that's hiting physique, or shorting to a diverse cord, and taping up or repairing so as that short no longer exists! question, is the alternator charging at suited voltage, (and amps)??? basically charging and "charging authentic" are 2 countless issues! Overcharging over a volume of time can wreck a battery too! this might point out a foul regulator in alternator! Or probable a foul diode (in altrenator) may well be dragging battery down, -- (yet fee basically advantageous while engine runnng!) before while alternator became common, I had vast arguments with "electric powered shop" doing maintenance, -- they woud say an alrernator became into "good", even though it would have undesirable diode (one that "leaks"), - ultimately I basically began doing my very own, and then had no issues! Alternators have been a "radical exchange" from turbines!

Answer 4

Go to autozone or someplace like that, They can test the battary and alternator....

If its just starting I would say the cells are not holding a charge, you only really use the battery while starting, once its started you can actually remove the battery. It may be the trickle down charge is not going to the batt from the alternator too, but thats less likely...

Get it tested for free.... then you wont replace something you don't have to.

Answer 5

Battery...

Your leads are corroded and the acid is leaking.

Since the car works fine AFTER the boost, that says that the alternator is fine, since it is powering the electrical systems just fine.

Make sure EVERYTHING electrical is turned off (lights, radio, a/c, etc...). Now, question is, why are you putting your E-Lights on? They'll drain your battery almost as fast as leaving your headlights on all day.

Answer 6

that would depend upon a couple of things. when you turn the key, if the engine makes a rapid "clicking" noise, it is more than likely the battery, but, if after you get it jumped and started, and turn your headlights on, and they go diim, or you start losing power in other areas, like windows, radio etc., it could be your alternator.
if you can get it running long enough to get it to a place like "advance auto parts" they can check both, the battery and the alternator to let you know what it is.

Answer 7

Some parts stores and garages will load test your charging system for free. Make sure it is a load test and not just hooking on a volt meter as that is useless.

The load test will determine if you need a battery or an alternator.

Answer 8

you need to have the entire strating and charging system check done to find out if your battery is good or bad. if the battery is still good, then it is definately your alternator. a lot of times the battery will go dead and cause the alternator to work overtime to recharge the battery and causes it to burn up. so have it checked out. your local auto parts store will do the test for free.

Answer 9

Maybe something is either loose or not connected correctly. It sounds like the battery is not being charged properly. Have is checked; unless you know that the battery is new. If there is a whining type noise it could be alternator belt.

Good luck

Answer 10

You may need a new battery.But before you do that,have your connections & altornator checked.It could be 1 of the 3 but it sounds like your battery is not recharging from your altornator.If so, it could be replaced and save you some money in the long run.