Need help with battery....

[caitymcpherson]

So I'm a girl that doesn't really know a lot about cars and I need some help. My 99 Chrysler Sebring convertible last night decided that it didn't want to turn over and so I jumped it and it seemed to work, untill I turned it off. It completely went dead again. So I tried jumping it again. This time it stayed charged while I drove home but then the battery light came on and also my ABS light. Does anyone have any idea what that may mean? Please I need help with this ASAP!

[KManiac]

Sounds to me like a combination of a weak battery and a weak alternator. The fact that it continues to run after a battery jump shows that the alternator is generating electricity, but the battery light coming on may indicate a charging problem. The fact that the battery doesn't take a charge when the car is running indicates a weak or dieing battery. I would consider replacing the battery first.

Your battery has a shelf life and can last anywhere from 4 to 6 years. Any battery that old is living on borrowed time. There should be a date code sticker on the side of your battery. It will consist of a letter and an number. The letter indicates the month of manufacture (A-L = 1-12 = January - December). The number indicates the year of manufacture (1 = 2001, 4 = 2004, etc.). If you can't find a sticker, then look for letters and numbers melted into the side or top of the top of the battery. The first letter and number in any group of melted numbers is the date code.

The best thing for you to do is to take your car to either Sears or any shop that offers a free battery and alternator test. Call around to find such a place, jump start the car and take it in for this test.

I would disregard the ABS light until the charging problem is resolved. This could be just a symptom of the weak battery/alternator and may reset with the a good battery installed.

Let us know what you do and what you find.

[Airjer_]

Well said Kmaniac!