yet another problem

[casinonut531]

ok so i have got alot of great help so far. I went out to my car to start it this morning, and it would not start, but the battery is charged, cd player, power windows ect. all work with full power. now I can jump the car and it will start like a champ, but as soon as I let it sit lets say over night, it wont start, thinking alternator- still charger enough for battery to hold enough juice, but sits over night and its drained again???? any ideas would be great..............................

[casinonut531]

ok had a light bulb go off-- maybe voltage regulator- since all lights interior and exterior flicker constatly also???? what does everyone think.... also in my car is that in my alternator or not have had people tell me both and is there a way to test my regulator if its not in the alternator thanks in advance
1988 2.8 multi-port v6

[dmotl99]

This sounds silly but.... have you checked the connection between the battery terminals and the cables? Sometime, when you put a jumper cable on them it will cause them to get better contact. When you take the jumper cable off, you lose contact again. Also, look for corrosion.

[casinonut531]

I checked my battery connections for everything, and it all checks out good. Dont know what else to do now, thinking that I should take my battery and alternator in to be checked, is there a at home way that I could check eigther of these, I am pretty sure that there is a way for the alternator, but cant remember what to do. Thanks

[dmotl99]

Ok here's the poor man's way of checking an alternater...

1) Start the car.
2) Disconnect the battery while the car is running.
3) If the car dies, the charging system (alternater) is bad.

Don't laugh it works.

[casinonut531]

So what happens if my car stays running???????????????

[GNXdreamin]

If the car stays running, your alternator is good. If she shuts off, the alternator is bad. Like Dmotl99 says, sounds too easy to work, but it does. I've tracked down several bad alternators that way. Another thing. The car only uses the battery to start the engine. once the car is started, it runs off power from the alternator. So if your car won't start, chances are you've got a bum battery. Especially if it won't hold a charge. My advice, for all it's worth, is get a new battery. A good one, like interstate. They're a little expensive, like around $70 bucks, but you'll never have to replace it again. Good luck, Casinonut!

[casinonut531]

Hey thanks alot! i had forgotten how all of that works. My battery is about 3-4 years old, and its just one from walmart, so yeah I think its about time to get a new one!!!!! Thanks again

[roaddirt]

Not so long, I had the problem when my 1999 Buick Century would not start so I thought it was bad battery. I jumped the car and I was driving it for several miles when it cut off while driving and the car stopped in the middle of the traffic. I jumped the car again and made it home where I found that my positive cable connector was corroded. I cleaned it and it fixed the problem. I still have the same battery and alternator.

The same happened to my brother with his 1992 Buick LeSabre.

You guys are saying that the car, once started, will run of alternator and you can even disconnect battery (this test did work for me with some cars in the past)
Corroded positive contact on battery is the same as disconnected cable, right?

Food for mind: Why my Buick stalled after jumping worked despite good alternator?
Does GM uses some weird wiring that prevents car from running of alternator if the battery is bad?

If so this test will not work on some newer GM cars.

[casinonut531]

Thanks alot again for the help. I jumped my car today, and took the battery off, and sure enough the car stayed running, thank god. So off I go to get a new battery. by the way i checked the cables and connections and everything is fine.............. Thanks again

[GNXdreamin]

Hey, Casino. Not a problem at all. i know how that crap goes, been there several times myself. let us know when you get the new battery in, and how she runs!