HELP!!! 92' won't start.Acting stange.

[izmepeggy]

I got off work at 5:00 am. I backed into my drive and came in the house for a minute.I went back out to go somewhere 10 min. later and it was acting strange..The dash lights come on and the power looks flutter.And seems dead.Won't even try to start..NOTHING.And when I turn the key and tried to shift gears the doors don't lock and unlock as usual..The electrical problem light did come on..Could it be the battery???I did but a charger on it but it still acts the same. I know how this crazy cold weather affects autos... Thank you for any replys

[maxwedge]

Basics, check battery connections, loose or corroded, battery is beyond charging.

[Tech II]

Does the vehicle even crank?

If no, the first thing I would do is remove the neg bat cable and then the positive one.......clean both cable connections if corroded.....if the side bolts are corroded, just replace them....apply dielectric grease to the connections, and reconnect to the battery, positive first......

Now take a voltmeter, and attach it to the battery terminals......should get a reading of 12.6 on a fully charged battery......now have someone crank the vehicle.....look at the voltage on the meter.....if it doesn't crank, and voltage has dropped well below 10 volts, your battery is shot.....try jump starting the vehicle(sometimes a battery can be so bad, it can't even be jump started)....

If you need a new battery, and you put one in and the vehicle starts, have your charging system checked out....I doubt you have a parasitic draw, but if the new battery dies on you, that would be the next thing to check....

[izmepeggy]

I've never had trouble before this happened and it always charges good..Could a battery go bad that fast?? Running fine one minute and nothing the next??

[Tech II]

How do you know it charges good? Do you stare at your gage while driving?

You don't say how old the battery is.....

Did you check the connections, like Max and I asked?

By the way, does your vehicle have the CRT touch screen?

[izmepeggy]

I went and bought another battery..And that was it.I do keep an eye on my gauges while driving,just out of habit.The cable ends are good.I've never had a battery go bad so fast.Never gave me a minutes trouble until then.The battery was about 4 years old.I guess with all this cold weather is just went..Thank you guys,I really appreciate your help.I couldn't decide if it was the battery or send it to the shop.I'm glad I took your advice and went with the battery.

[Tech II]

Just as a double check, watch to see if the alternator is charging, when the vehicle is at normal operating temp, and you have a slight load like, your lights and blower motor are on, at idle in Park........