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Car Wont Start Without a Jump
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TenLetters
New User
Mar 18, 2009, 11:40 AM
Post #1 of 6
(1376 views)
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Car Wont Start Without a Jump
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i have to use my wifes car to start mine with jumper cables. It was running fine when i got my new battery about 3 months ago but now when i let it sit over night my car wont start. Im wondering if i need a new alternator. when i turn it over i get no power at all but the second i hook jumper cables my car gets all lit up and the alarm goes off. and the battery like i said is only three months old this is the second battery so far that i switch in a 3 months time period. help anyone thanks.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 18, 2009, 2:19 PM
Post #2 of 6
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Re: Car Wont Start Without a Jump
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Check alternator output now and if that's good then you may need to chase down a drain.
BTW - If you continually find battery that low it will kill a good new one and if alternator was good it works so dang hard every time it could burn out that too. Begin with checking alternator,
T
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TenLetters
New User
Mar 18, 2009, 5:14 PM
Post #3 of 6
(1367 views)
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Re: Car Wont Start Without a Jump
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how do i check the voltage and whatnot i have a ford zx2 the alternator sits where i cannot see the wires all to good
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 19, 2009, 12:11 AM
Post #4 of 6
(1360 views)
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Re: Car Wont Start Without a Jump
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You can check for voltage right at the battery with a multimeter or there are these neat gadgets that you can just plug in a power port/cig lighter.
I'd like to see the base 12 (and a touch) volts while just sitting there, then a quick drop not lower than 9v when starter cranks, then it should stailize at about 13.5 - 14.5 volts while running. With item on - lights, blower etc it will drop but not below 13 and should be able to rise against a load with a raised idle. If not the odds are alternator output is insufficient for the amps being used and is highly suspect.
All battery cable end connections need be known good - don't just look - they need cleaning up periodically. Battery should be charged with a charger on slow setting or just have a slow only charger (smaller and inexpensive) as that's much kinder to the battery and when charged it can be effectively tested if in question.
Items to have that are always handy:
* Test light - simple 6-12v LED type - $4
* Basic multimeter $10
* Trickle battery charger +/or battery maintainer with "float mode" $20
* Cig lighter power port digital voltmeter (AutoZone- others) $12
**** Common Sense: Priceless - if you find any out there please let us know - it's been out of stock for ions now
T
(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Mar 19, 2009, 12:17 AM)
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TenLetters
New User
Mar 19, 2009, 1:36 PM
Post #5 of 6
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Re: Car Wont Start Without a Jump
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also i have 2 subwoofers on about 1200 watts each in my trunk without a capacitor would that be hurting my alternator also?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 19, 2009, 3:54 PM
Post #6 of 6
(1348 views)
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Re: Car Wont Start Without a Jump
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I plead a tad ignorant on wattage of sound equipment as to how many amps they need from the car but no doubt that's a considerable load.
Whatever the load the alternator should be able to cover the load without discharging a battery.
The original engineering is to cover all items in use at once which near never happens - like running all lights, blower, rear window defroster, all power assessories and original things. Just the quick load of two power windows at the same time would tax out most alternators but the battery can cover that for the short moment of that as you don't do that contantly.
With an add on it has to be factored in as to whether the battery AND the alternator require upgrading or you'll kill them both with some regularity.
Again - you could watch that with a voltmeter with things in use,
T
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