Hi, my car is a Nissan Altima 1993 2.4l 207000 Km and I have this weird trouble with the electrical system. This morning my car didn’t start, as I turned the key nothing happened but the lights on the dashboard dimmed off. I thought I have a shortcircuit; I took the battery and recharge it. My battery is 1 year old and in excellent condition but it was drained down to 20% as my intelligent charger “told me”.
I doubt that the inside light can do that (door not complete closed or something). The resistance between battery cables was infinite but I know this is not very relevant, better to measure the amps ( didn’t have time); after I reinstalled the battery and started the engine, I checked the voltage on battery posts, and was 14,45V so the alternator is charging.
Later this afternoon, as I restarted my car several times, sometimes it sounded “tired” like there was not enough juice in the battery. At one point, it didn’t start for a moment; after it started, the clock was reset like when you disconnect the battery from the car(open circuit or short? If short, why the fuse didn’t blow?); then the car run with no problems;
Now I am expecting future troubles with dead battery; It’s a little bit tricky this kind of both, short and open circuit. Where should I start checking? Can it be the starter at fault?

Thank you

Are you sure the battery is is top condition? You need to have the battery load tested. You can recharge a bad battery and it will usually start the car till it sits for a bit. Then slow start or no start. Also if you tested your charging system in the manner you described, right after charging the battery, you may have only been seeing battery voltage and not true charging voltage. You need to have the system checked. Most local auto parts stores will load test a battery and check the charging system at no charge. Start with the basics first.

Jeff

Too add: Alt needs the connections all good or it will not even charge full amps. Keep in mind all connections - battery cables at the batter and at opposite ends too! It can't be any better than the weakest link as they say.

At the age and miles you can check for voltage drop while cranking and test at both ends of pos cable to get an idea on cable ability or starter just drawing too much.

Try to charge up battery separate from the vehicle. Much can be known watching voltage drops with certain accessories put on with key off but items enabled. Yankee tricks perhaps but can help tell it even a new battery isn't up to par,

T
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Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest, Boston
http://acsource.net/acforum/index.php

ty! you guys you really know how to fix cars! it was the battery and my "intelligent charger" was wrong!
second time i wanted to recharge the battery I couldn't recharge it more than 73%. I replaced the battery and the car worked fine until i got into another trouble for which i will open another thread. thank you again!