97 monte Volts Abs lights won't start

[aCamView]

1997 Monte Carlo Seems Dead.
Volts and ABS lights on before it totally died.
Now I turn key and Nothing works except open door chime.
Before all this happened I installed a new battery at Sears. Ran great for 2 days then it died.
Any help will be help. I'm in Brockton Ma area.
Thank You so much
(I don't have a lot of $$ )
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[Nick07]

Check the alternator if you already haven't. If you're not sure how, get the car started by jumping it if it'll start at all. Once you can keep it running, disconnect the positive terminal on the battery. If it dies it's the alternator, if it stays you running after you disconnect the positive battery terminal then you got another problem. Try that and let us know what happens. You can usually pick up a used alternator for around $40-$50. Also, do you have the 3.1 or the 3.4 motor?

[aCamView]

Originally Posted by Nick07

Check the alternator if you already haven't. If you're not sure how, get the car started by jumping it if it'll start at all. Once you can keep it running, disconnect the positive terminal on the battery. If it dies it's the alternator, if it stays you running after you disconnect the positive battery terminal then you got another problem. Try that and let us know what happens. You can usually pick up a used alternator for around $40-$50. Also, do you have the 3.1 or the 3.4 motor?

Thanks for the reply--
I have the 3.4 motor auto trans. When I Jump the engin will run for 1-2 min. Then Volts light comes on ... Engine stutters and stops. The battery is brand new. Then when I turn key (tried 2 keys) Nothing happens -- No idiot lights nothing. Does this need to be taken to a dealer?
Also as I mentioned I had the battery installed at Sears then these problems started. Think I can trust Sears to look at the car without jumping through a lot of BS ? Could they have screwed something up?
When the battery was installed they did do a test and everything was fine

[Nick07]

That's not a good question for me cuz I don't trust anyone else working on my vehicles, I do EVERYTHING myself on any vehicle I have. I'm also extremely mechanically inclined, as I am aspiring to get a degree or certification in everything automotive. If you can do what I said in my first reply yourself then do that. You did say you were worried about money so your best bet is doing it yourself. It's honestly very simple, if my girlfriend can do it then I know you can. Take my word for it, she's about the farthest thing from a mechanic as it gets. Like I said just do that, or if you want a mechanic to do it then tell them to check the alternator. My alternator went out on my 96 3.4 and it did the exact same thing. I had to replace the battery and the alternator. If you do find out it's the alternator then let me know and I can give you very easy directions as to how to fix it yourself, if you want.

[oldblu65]

Also check your ignition switch .

[aCamView]

Originally Posted by Nick07

That's not a good question for me cuz I don't trust anyone else working on my vehicles, I do EVERYTHING myself on any vehicle I have. I'm also extremely mechanically inclined, as I am aspiring to get a degree or certification in everything automotive. If you can do what I said in my first reply yourself then do that. You did say you were worried about money so your best bet is doing it yourself. It's honestly very simple, if my girlfriend can do it then I know you can. Take my word for it, she's about the farthest thing from a mechanic as it gets. Like I said just do that, or if you want a mechanic to do it then tell them to check the alternator. My alternator went out on my 96 3.4 and it did the exact same thing. I had to replace the battery and the alternator. If you do find out it's the alternator then let me know and I can give you very easy directions as to how to fix it yourself, if you want.

Wow!! Thank You VERY Much. I'm sure that I can do what you suggested I'll prob give it a try tomorrow afternoon.

I am a Computer Network Consultant In Boston.
Got any computer questions I'm sure I can answer almost any for ya. Been doing it for 22 years.


Again Thanks. I may need to ask you about the install of the alt...

[aCamView]

Originally Posted by oldblu65

Also check your ignition switch .

Thanks I'll keep that in mind too. You guys are GREAT!

[Nick07]

Actually I do have a question for ya since yer on here... You familiar with Trend Micro Anitvirus software or Windows Defender? Both of those keep saying they have updates available but when I try to update them they don't. Both still download and apply automatic updates and when I scan they don't find anything wrong. Is that just because there are new versions available but the software has to be purchased and uploaded?

[aCamView]

Originally Posted by Nick07

Actually I do have a question for ya since yer on here... You familiar with Trend Micro Anitvirus software or Windows Defender? Both of those keep saying they have updates available but when I try to update them they don't. Both still download and apply automatic updates and when I scan they don't find anything wrong. Is that just because there are new versions available but the software has to be purchased and uploaded?

Off Topic

Hey.
It SOUNDS like they are downloading and installing the updates ok. When you scan you said you find no problems --- This is a Good Thing NO PROBLEMS FOUND.

Most of the virus/malware programs Do updated every day. This is so they can protect you from the most recent virus attacks.

Defender is Free from micro$oft.

Ask again if this didn't help -- but it seems normal from what you told me.

___Later

[Nick07]

That's what I thought, I just try to ignore the notices. Let us know what you come up with tomorrow or whenever on the Monte.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by Nick07

That's what I thought, I just try to ignore the notices. Let us know what you come up with tomorrow or whenever on the Monte.

you should consider using AVAST anti virus...this I have used for many years...It is free for home personal use ,,and updates most every day...
never any virus problems,,,even works in my windows 98se computer,,as well as my vista computer...

I used to have others and they failed to protect....

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by aCamView

1997 Monte Carlo Seems Dead.
Volts and ABS lights on before it totally died.
Now I turn key and Nothing works except open door chime.
Before all this happened I installed a new battery at Sears. Ran great for 2 days then it died.
Any help will be help. I'm in Brockton Ma area.
Thank You so much
(I don't have a lot of $$ )
Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5G77a Safari/525.20

with a voltmeter after you charge the battery and start the engine check for 13.75-14.75 vdc...if the voltage is below 13volts....like 11.5vdc your alternator is not charging /creating a charge for the engines electrical system...removing the battery connections when running,,are not recommended as this can damage other electrical/electronic componets...use a meter do this correctly...

if you do replace the alternator make sure the battery is fully charged or you may find the alternator will fail soon

[aCamView]

Originally Posted by j cAT

with a voltmeter after you charge the battery and start the engine check for 13.75-14.75 vdc...if the voltage is below 13volts....like 11.5vdc your alternator is not charging /creating a charge for the engines electrical system...removing the battery connections when running,,are not recommended as this can damage other electrical/electronic componets...use a meter do this correctly...

if you do replace the alternator make sure the battery is fully charged or you may find the alternator will fail soon

Thanks guys...
Right now there is a lot of finger pointing going on at Sears, where I had the battery installed right before this electrical problem started. If you have any more ideas .... please post them. I'll keep ya updated.
Thanks

[Nick07]

That's usually how it goes, you hardly ever get the truth with stuff like that. A voltmeter is the proper way, no arguement there. You should do it that way if you have a voltmeter or want to go buy one or borrow one. I do have one n that's how I checked. I've never gotten around to gettin a voltmeter, I'm pretty sure I'm gonna get one sometime soon though. Somehow word got around that I'm the go to guy for car audio so lately people have been bringin me stuff to fix. I'm sure you probably don't need to know that but I told you anyway