battery won't stay charged...

[zoL]

I bought a new battery back in March(ish), and I go to start'er up this morning and bada boom nothing. So, I figure it's the battery, and jump it. Worked like a charm. Drove around for 2 hours, nothing in the dash was working, speedometer didn't read, gas says I'm empty, no RPM, all the lights are on, etc. I get out thinking it must be charged by now. Won't start back up. So, it's obviously not charging. Is it the alternator?

Sorry if this has been asked before, but I searched and turned up nothing.

[[ion] C2]

yes sir

[clutch1]

Yeap sounds right... toss a new one in and the prob should be solved.

[jayson_waltz]

its the alt for sure.

[Nate's Alero]

alt.

i can help you change it if you want...

[WhiteV6]

How do you drive 2 hours without an alternator? The alternator is not going to charge a dead battery. That is what a battery charger is for. The alt is there to keep the battery charged and sustain the load from the car. I would have both the battery and the alt checked, as you can ruin a battery with a bad alternator.

[zoL]

How do you drive 2 hours without an alternator? The alternator is not going to charge a dead battery. That is what a battery charger is for. The alt is there to keep the battery charged and sustain the load from the car. I would have both the battery and the alt checked, as you can ruin a battery with a bad alternator.

I had them both checked, and they're both fine...

So, it wouldn't start this morning. Friends dad hit the starter a couple of times with a good ol' tire iron. I jumped it, and it started right up. Turned it off. Tried starting it again without being jumped and it started right up. And now it starts up fine. He thinks water could have gone up in the starter or something, and now it's dried out. Fucking weird. But it works, so I'm happy.

[Alerosaint]

Good info....ill keep that in mind

[[ion] C2]

Starter being bad wouldn't cause the electrical issues while driving.

[zoL]

IDK dude. We unplugged the battery when it was running, and it stayed going, so the alternator is fine. Lol.

[jayson_waltz]

^BAD BAD IDEA. never unhook the battery while the car is running, there is noplace for the voltage from the alt to go if it is working, and u could very easily burn a lot of stuff out. that happened once on my atv, the battery came unhooked and all the light bulbs blew instantly.

[[ion] C2]

heh when my battery terminals were loose it caused some rough engine performance, a lot of things are handled by your electrical system

[zoL]

^BAD BAD IDEA. never unhook the battery while the car is running, there is noplace for the voltage from the alt to go if it is working, and u could very easily burn a lot of stuff out. that happened once on my atv, the battery came unhooked and all the light bulbs blew instantly.

Well, w/e. Shits working fine now. :D

[heineck]

tire iron huh? good to hear

[Gr1m]

sounds like you have a badass short in your car