Quick Silver

Ok, here's the story:
I am sitting in my car with a couple of buddies watching a dvd on my navi. Usually when I chill in the car like this, I leave it running so the battery doesn't die. Sometimes I turn the engine off, but restart it ever 15-20min to let the battery charge. To date, I have only had my battery dies out once, and it was because i left the dome and map lights on all night (stupid mistake).

Today, after only sitting in the car with the engine off for 10 min, the battery completely died. No windows, no nothing. My buddy pulled out some cables and started giving me a jump, but the car wouldn't crank. Electonics came back on, but the engine wouldn't crank. We let it charge for like 10-15min, and it still wouldn't start. We closed up the hoods and were trying to figure out what I was going to do. Just as I was about to call RoadSide Assistance, i decided to try again, and the car just started. I immediately went for a drive to let it charge.

Is my battery dying out to a point beyond repair (jump-start). What should i do? Would getting a more powerful battery help me out?

Any help is appreciated!!

sidemarker

sounds like its your alternator...

sidemarker

Quick Silver

what are the sympotoms of a dying alternator?

EricL

If you "cycle" a battery enough times, it is going to die.

If you can't start the car with a set of "real" jumper cables (the ones that feel like flexible barbells) the battery may be shorted or your buddy may have those jumper cables that look thick but have 20 AWG wire inside them (good for a few amps). (The cables look fat on the outside [all plastic] and only have a enough copper for a few amps of charging current.)

Any good shop should be able to tell you your battery condition and/or alternator condition.

AND

If you have a tow service, they have FAT jump cables (if they don't, I would be surprised). If you can get AAA (or other auto tow service) to give you a jump and you can't turn the car over, you may be looking at some other problem.

(I have the FAT-BOY jumper cables and they are expensive and feel really heavy and I've started buddies cars that had completly dead batteries [batteries that would not accept a charge])

EricL

Alternator light comes on...

mattg

you need a new batt.

get an optima

EricL

See consumer reports....

mattg

what, you trust them over me
































j/k

sidemarker

we have a alternator lights?

sidemarker

CBR1100XX

Actually it sounds like a loose battery terminal. I had a LeBaron that acted just like that.

dogfight

ALWAYS check the obvious FIRST... corroded teminals, loose cables or connections. I had to replace the alternator in my Maxima and there were no symptoms... just quit working. The repair shop (I've used them for 10 years) said that is usual - they are either working or not.

Take your unit to an expert if necessary after doing all the routine checks - may be cheaper in the long run.

dogfight

mantis23

Whats wrong with the optimas? I have one, and it seems to be doing just fine.

URIRx98

i had batery probs a month ago. dies like 3 times in a week. check the harness and then if not take to sears and let them do a run on the battery, and if its toast, then buy a new one. its like 79 installed, or go to auto discount and get a new one for 50 and install yourself.
wg

SiGGy

Also, *don't* drive around and charge your battery (if its completely dead). You'd have to drive for 4-6 hours on the highway with no stop and go traffic. It also puts a huge load on your alternator. If you do that a few times, you might just burn it out.

Use a battery charger...

It does sound like you have a loose battery terminal though...

EricL

AKA "Charing system indicator light"

EricL

$140 for Optima Red Top 34/78-1050

(It placed 2nd to a Motorcraft battery for $80)

Here is a "hand type" of the paragraph:

"The group size 34/78 Optima red Top 34/78-1050, $140, was among the longest-lasting batteries in our tests. But the top-rated Motorcraft Test Tough Max BXT-3478, $80, and high-rated Duralast Gold (North) 34DT-DGN, $75, lasted nearly as long and delivered more reserve capacity for far less money"

I was looking them over before I ran into the article and was assuring myself that this was the battery I was going to toss in my cars when any would go bad. From a technical/design standpoint the battery really looks nice. However, I think I would prefer to just pay half the money for a battery that is rated higher for my needs.

AT7Driver

My dealer here in Atlanta prorated my battery when it conked out last year.

CL'er 1st & 2nd Gen's

Good for you. Was the battery as old as this thread?

labmeister

Go to Autozone - they'll do a free charging system check. I've had the duralast for a little over 2 years and it's still going strong. I paid about $70 for it.

Nitz

CL FWD SPEED

battery testers are handy to determind the life of the battery

12.6 = 100%charge
12.4 = 75%
12.2 = 50%
12.0 = 25%

anything below 12V battery needs replacement.....I'd say go with the optima

Sly Raskal

iTrader: (1)

Mine just died this morning. I accidentally left the door ajar twice in the last week, and the dome and door light was on all night.

the car is about 3 1/2 years old now. It was probably due for replacement anyways.

I bought a charger today hoping to recharge it tonight. If it doesn't hold a charge I'll juts pick up a new battery on friday when I get my oil changed anyways.