I went to start it on my lunch break yesterday and it was dead. I called AAA and they came to jump it and also did a test and said the battery tested fine, but it was dead again when I left work. After jumping it, driving it for 45 min and then leaving it running (lights, radio, etc turned off) for 20 min at home, it would not start again an hour later. The car has 100,000 miles on it and it is still the original battery. I have never had issues with it before. In fact, I have left interior lights on for hours and was surprised how long the battery lasted before it died. I'm really hoping I just need to replace the battery and not the alternator or something else. Anyone have any ideas?
take battery out recharge it .see if it starts car after full charge if so not the battery uld be draing from some where or alternator fault is red light for alternator on or what .best bet drain on battery somewhere .take lead of battery and see if battery losses power out of car overnight should keep steady 12.5 vaults at all times if good battery.
I'd say your due for a new battery but the alternator could be going bad also. Only way to tell is to pull the battery and/or have it recharged/load tested at a shop or parts store that offers that service and also have the charging system/alternator checked for correct output. Most likely the battery is junk after 6 years/100K miles.
Battery Charging System Light
They usually ALL go bad at the same time. The alternator, battery and VOLTAGE REGULATOR. ON MANY cars the voltage regulator is built into the alternator. It hqas BRUSHES and electronics, and these brushes contact the rotating COPPER wheels with in the ALTERNAOTR. ANyways, when the brushes wear out the charge withers as teh contacts flutter away from teh contacts. Thsi will OVEROWRk the battery, adn vice versa. Get a fULL charge system tes. Chances are that your BATTERY and ALTERANTOR have worn out TOGETHER. WHn the alternator has charging problems the engine relies on BATTERY as a back up to provide POWER to spark plugs and keep fule pump going. GET A FULL CHRAGE TEST from AUTO ZONE, It's FREE> GOOD LUCK!!
