battery/alternator/starter issue

turbosprentice · #1 04-25-2007, 01:01 AM

Well, I was thumping my subs on my way to work and when I went to work and came home the car won't start. So i had a friend jump start it for me, when i got home i turned it off and tried to restart it, it wouldn't even start. I'm running two or pretty much three power source for the car, two battery for my two subs and my amps. and one battery in the front. I've been using and recharging them for about 1 year now. Can somebody help me find out why my car is not starting anymore? charging the car doesn't seem to work anymore. The frong battery seems fine, but I think the two in the back are pretty worn out. Does anyone know if it's my alternator or my starter?

Stealthee · #2 04-25-2007, 01:04 AM

If jumping it helps then its not the starter. If it runs for a while and then you shut it off, and it wont restart its possible its the alt. The battery could have a dead cell. My Optima red top died on me from sitting. I would jump it and it would start the car but the battery wouldnt hold a charge. Threw another battery in and it was perfect.

youngvr4 · #3 04-25-2007, 01:29 AM

from the description your giving i'm pretty sure its your alternator like said above

Igovert500 · #4 04-25-2007, 10:41 AM

autozone tests both for free.

turbosprentice · #5 04-25-2007, 06:00 PM

ok thanks, i'll check it out and probably get a new alternator then, if it's still having the same issue then i have no clue what is wrong.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stealthee

If jumping it helps then its not the starter. If it runs for a while and then you shut it off, and it wont restart its possible its the alt. The battery could have a dead cell. My Optima red top died on me from sitting. I would jump it and it would start the car but the battery wouldnt hold a charge. Threw another battery in and it was perfect.

turbosprentice · #6 04-25-2007, 06:05 PM

i don't trust my auto zone here. they're pretty much stupid. i guess it's just the workers but then i went and ask for a torque ranch and they gave me a ranch, i went the advance auto zone, and i asked if they had any '94 toyota celica header gasket and he didn't know if there were such things as header gasket. and i was cracking up/ piss off!! i got my dad to biitch at them and how stupid they were, (he's a mechanic, but he doesn't teach me much because he wants me to learn). well yeah, that's why i don't count on auto zone over here all that much. i prefer going else where.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Igovert500

autozone tests both for free.

Linebckr49 · #7 04-25-2007, 06:13 PM

NAPA, ftw! the smart ppl work at NAPA.

turbosprentice · #8 04-25-2007, 06:15 PM

i guess i'll give that a try.. only been there once.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linebckr49

NAPA, ftw! the smart ppl work at NAPA.

talskinyguy · #9 04-26-2007, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by youngvr4

from the description your giving i'm pretty sure its your alternator like said above

Sounds like the battery to me. It runs fine after jumping, so the alternator has to be working or it wouldn't stay running.

Igovert500 · #10 04-26-2007, 01:49 PM

I didn't say listen to the people at Autozone...there is a reason they are working there, and not working as mechanics...

I just said they test them for free. Your subs may just draw too much, and the alternator couldn't charge the battery enough...and it died. Autozone will toss it on a charger, and it will charge. If the red light comes on instead of the green light...it is dead and wont charge...no guess work involved on their part.

Plus they have a nice policy, where you have a 3 year warranty on batteries...so if you buy one of theirs, and have a short to ground that kills a battery every 3 days if you don't drive the car...and you go through...oh...i don't know...let's say 14 batteries in the course of one cold NY winter...it's not a bad deal to get 13 of them free

ZRYDERVR4 · #11 04-26-2007, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Igovert500

I didn't say listen to the people at Autozone...there is a reason they are working there, and not working as mechanics...

I just said they test them for free. Your subs may just draw too much, and the alternator couldn't charge the battery enough...and it died. Autozone will toss it on a charger, and it will charge. If the red light comes on instead of the green light...it is dead and wont charge...no guess work involved on their part.

Plus they have a nice policy, where you have a 3 year warranty on batteries...so if you buy one of theirs, and have a short to ground that kills a battery every 3 days if you don't drive the car...and you go through...oh...i don't know...let's say 14 batteries in the course of one cold NY winter...it's not a bad deal to get 13 of them free

Igovert has a very good point

talskinyguy · #12 04-26-2007, 03:28 PM

No he doesn't. They will just test the new "bad" battery and tell you its still good. Then they will charge it. And why wouldn't you want to fix a short on your car. Do you realize how much of a bitch it would be to switch your battery 14 times in a winter.....

Linebckr49 · #13 04-26-2007, 05:05 PM

i think he's referring to the electrical gremlin short in his wiring harness (ignition harness, IIRC) that plagued his car for the better part of 2 years.

POST REPLY TO THIS THREAD