car_lost

the damn thing wont fucking start. yesterday i had toi jump it twice and today its dead again

the only electrical type stuff i have done is a small amp/sub woofer and hid's in my fog lights. my car is 2.5 years old with the stock battery. what the hell is going on?

im guessing its the battery. if it were the alternator, the car would die after i jumped it. right or wrong?

the sub/amp and hid fog's were put in about 2 or 3 months.

StanMan

have the battery tested and see. it is not uncommon to have to replace a battery every 3-4 years. if you bump your system while the engine is off and you do not drive the car long enough afterwards, the battery never fully recharges.

hypertech

It could be the alternator or the battery.

For example, if the alternator is out, the battery can still have a charge, but not enough to crank the engine. It takes far less power to run the engine than start it. This will only last for a while until you eventually run the battery completely down. If you notice the turn signals working slower and the headlights dimming, shut off your radio, headlights, etc and try to get to a safe place to stop because your battery is running out of juice.

Or, it could be the battery. If it is, you would have to jump it to start it, and there is the possibility that the alternator could generate enough power to run the electronics on the car. I have never tried disconnecting my battery to see if it would run.

So, it could be either. I would first hook up the battery to a battery charger for at least overnight. If it still won't crank, it is probably the battery. If after charging it, it is fine for a while then starts again, it is likely your alternator.

Most autopart stores will hook up a meter to your car that can check the battery and the alternator for free.

Good luck.

Darkshear

iTrader: (1)

2.5 years? thats just about right for a new battery...

CJITTY

If you got a Wal Mart nearby with a Tires Lube Express, they will check it for free with a really good test to see exactly what's up with your battery, alternator, etc. I had to do it once. Got a battery from them 4 years ago, still goin strong for under $50

fpique

This just happened to me... Go to Sears to have a load test on your car. Sears will do it for free!

Pure Adrenaline

iTrader: (2)

Take the battery out and get it tested. If it's ok, then it's your alternator/voltage regulator.

Same thing happened to my friend Chris, and we traced the problem to the voltage regulator (built inside the alternator). It was not starting on a fully charged battery, but when we jumped it, it started. If it starts on 24v, but not on 12v, then it's most likely your alternator/voltage regulator.

@cUr@-TL

no way 2.5 years is right.. a battery should last longer than that. in fact, my car is a 1999 and the battery is still fine. (knock on wood)

car_lost

never had the system on while the car is off... im smart enough to not do that

car_lost

this morning, when i woke up, i had to get something from my car so i figured "let me see if it starts up." it started up, although it hesitated. then i left it on for 5 minutes, turned it off went back inside had my breakfast and what not and then when i went to leave for work, it wouldnt start.

either way the car is going to the dealership tomorrow and im removing the system today so they cant blame it on that just incase the problem is more complicated than just a battery.

Lawaia

AWWWW FAWK! You just jinxed yourself! j/k

2-1/2 years is a bit low but not uncommon for the stock battery to crap out early.

shawn744

yeah dude, definitely sounds like batter prob to me....happened to me last year with my other car. (it was like 5 months old too).....bat would die (winter) i'd do a full charge, then put it in the garage, and the next MORNING it was dead.....then it would work a few days and die again.......

look into the bat. good luck.

giovanni

Sounds like Battery.....Happened to me once....Replaced the battery...so far so good

99TLHeather

If you want to check to see if it's the alternator, start the car and pull the positive wire off the battery. If the car keeps running than the alternator is good..if the car shuts off, than your alternator is bad.

fla-tls

I had a battery in my old Mitsubishi Eclipse go at 18 months. They don't always wear out from time. Sometimes they break internally and the plates short out (that's what happened to the Eclipse's battery).