Car dead this morning

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May 22, 2006 | 06:42 AM

NJgunslinger

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Car dead this morning

Hey do you think this is the alternator... Car has a pretty new battery from last summer. Ran the car all weekend with no problems. This morning I go to start it, headlights pop open, turn the key..tick tick tick, then nothing. Try again, same problem, now nothing turns on. Battery totally dead.
I didnt leave any lights on, or anything else.

Sooo something drained the battery, all I can think of is the alternator just died on me.

May 22, 2006 | 07:30 AM

300bhp/ton

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From: England

Good be anything, interior light? It's easily switched on if you move the dash light dimmer switch to the top.

Stereo, alarm?

Just charge the battery up and see if it does it again.

May 22, 2006 | 09:30 AM

markp03

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if you have a multimeter check the alternator to see what it is charging at....

May 22, 2006 | 01:05 PM

snake charmer

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Check the battery terminals for corrosion .

May 22, 2006 | 08:08 PM

brad8266

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Check for corrosion, then replace battery with a spare one of another car or a new one. If the car starts now then while running go ahead and disconnect the ground on the battery and measure the voltage that the alternator is putting out. If it is below 13.8 VOlts then the alternator is probably on the way out the door.

May 22, 2006 | 09:34 PM

magius231

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save yourself a lot of time: take it to Sears and have them run a charging system check. It costs $9 and they will check the battery under load (which you can't do and is the ONLY way to test it), the alternator, and how many amps the starter is pulling. If all that checks out fine, put a multimeter between your positive terminal on your battery and the cable, and see how much current is being drawn. If its more than a really minor amount to run the computer, you have a short somewhere: start pulling fuses until it goes away.

Remember, just because something is new does not mean its good.

May 22, 2006 | 09:36 PM

staringback05

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better idea.....charge the battery...when it starts up take the cables off and if it cuts out then its the alternator not holding charge....if it keeps running then its something else

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May 22, 2006 | 11:41 PM

King Nothing

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 300bhp/ton

Good be anything, interior light? It's easily switched on if you move the dash light dimmer switch to the top.

Stereo, alarm?

Just charge the battery up and see if it does it again.

actually our car's interior stock accessories will turn off after 10 minutes, it's a saftey precaution they put in to prevent problems like this. if you ever had all your lights flickering before the morning of the no start and when i mean all, i mean ALL YOUR LIGHTS ON THE CAR then thats a sign your alternator is going to hell fast