94 Lumina, Battery acting like it's dying.

[FiXThIsCaR]

Okay, I have a 94 lumina which is in pretty good shape. It hasn't been ran for a little bit over a year since this point in time. I did a very dumb thing and tried to drive it four hours from where I live, and broke down about three hours into the drive and everything was fine.

I was sitting at a redlight and my car dies. So I turn my four ways on and put the car in park and try to crank it back up, but it doesn't turn over. It doesn't do anything. I didn't notice if my car lights had went dim or not, but I don't think my car lights went dim. So, it basically stalled out and wouldn't even turn over.
Now when my parents finally got to where we were(and where the car was), they tightened the cables on the battery, and jumped it off, and it started just fine.

Now I should also add that the battery itself had been dead for about a year and then recharged and put back in. It took a good charge, so we didn't think anything was wrong with it. But before I took the trip no one had told me that the battery cables hadn't been tightened. But once they were tightened, the car was able to be jumped off on one try. It made the three hour trip back home, and I went to have the alternator and battery tested and they tested fine. When the car died the first time, the volts were 9, so it was considered dead.

But today (two days later.) it died on me again. It was able to be jumped off again to be driven home, but it did the same thing as before and just wouldn't turn over.

I don't know if it's my alternator, battery, or the cables. I would really appreciate if someone could help me figure out which of the three it is, so I can get it replaced as quickly as possible. Thanks for all those of who help me!!!!

[tblake]

If this is the origional battery, defenatly spend a little money, and get a new batt. As these things dont last forever. A quick question for ya, was the battery left in the car while it was sitting a little over a year? If so, it probably got drained, and once they get drained, they never charge quite the same again. I would just replace that batt, and check all connections, and go from there.

[jeffcoslacker]

A battery that sits unused for any length of time will fall victim to sulpfation, a mineral build-up on the grids. Sometimes they can be used even so, but more ofter than not, the sulphation is shed from the plates, and accumulates a the bottom, shorting out the grids in an erratic manner. So one time it might test fine, and the next not be able to light a light bulb. If it has caps that can be removed, you may notice an odor of sulpfer akin to rotten egg or matches. There even may be a small amount of smoke from one cell. Chances are the battery is shot. Keep driving it like that, and your alternator WILL die next.

[FiXThIsCaR]

Okay, I'm going to replace the battery tomorrow. But it was newer than I thought it was. It is actually only about two years old, but it WAS sitting in the car the whole time it was dead, and we're all pretty sure it's the battery. But I still have one more question.

If it's not the battery, and it is the alternator, how will I know? And about how long will it be before it dies on me again?

Thanks for all you're help guys!!!

[jeffcoslacker]

You can buy a very cheap tester that is no more than a probe with a couple of LED's on it that read voltage (less than $10 at AutoZone or WalMart) once the new battery is in, the voltage across the terminals should read between 13-14.5 volts withthe motor idling and all accessories off. About 14.1 is typical for the GM alternators. If you try to test the alt with a battery that has a shorted cell, the short will "lie" to the regulator in the alt, telling it that the battery is fully charged, causing it to drop output. This can give a low reading that can be mistaken for a bad alternator. If you can, try to leave a charger hooked to the jump start terminals while replacing the battery. This will keep you from loosing clock and radio functions, and possibly the idle memory. Just be sure to wrap a rag or something around the positive side, so you don't short out.

[jeffcoslacker]

If you have a battery distibutor near you, you can buy one direct from them, usually at near wholesale price. Saves a lot of money over retail auto parts stores.

[tblake]

thats a good idea, hook a battery charger up to the jump start terminals to not lose presets. very good thinking.

[FiXThIsCaR]

Well, I went to an autopart place today and they said that it was too late that my battery had made my alternator quit working altogether (now my car won't turn over and can't be boosted.) So I had to replace my alternator and battery, so everything's back to normal.

It wouldn't have mattered which one went first because both were going bad. My battery had damaged cells in them which is why it wasn't keeping a charge, but when they tested my alternator today it was doing down by the second!! And it didn't start off at 14 either. It started off at 11. something and my battery was dead. He had to jump my car off at the autopart place to even get a reading on my alternator. But he said that since the battery was badly damaged as it was, I was better off just replacing both (since my battery had been dead for a year and sitting in the car the whole time.) so Thanks for all your help, and all of you who gave me suggestions. I know where to come now when I need car help!!! God Bless you Guys!!!