Mazda Protege5 Having Trouble Starting - Maybe Alternator?

Today I drove 30minutes to my friend's house without any issues. 15 minutes after arriving, we got in my car and it wouldn't start at all, not even the usual clicking when the battery is dead. Also, the electric locks wouldn't work at all. I got it jumped (it took about 3 times) and it started working again. It drove fine for the rest of the evening, except that the dashboard lights were very very low. I've had a similar problem with a different car, so I think it's the alternator, however the fact that the car wouldn't start at all the first time I tried it worries me.

Today I drove 30minutes to my friend's house without any issues. 15 minutes after arriving, we got in my car and it wouldn't start at all, not even the usual clicking when the battery is dead. Also, the electric locks wouldn't work at all. I got it jumped (it took about 3 times) and it started working again. It drove fine for the rest of the evening, except that the dashboard lights were very very low. I've had a similar problem with a different car, so I think it's the alternator, however the fact that the car wouldn't start at all the first time I tried it worries me.

WOW where is the traffic in this area of the forum? You probably had that corrected by now but yep dimming lights, trouble starting, battery getting drained are all clear signs of alternator trouble. :smile: