Alternator or Battery?

So i was leaving school yesterday and i went to start my car and it was starting like i was having a bad start then i turned the key again and it just clicked, caled my dad he boosted my car, then i drove it for about 20 mins, went to next class then tried starting it again after that same thing, happened again after work, dad told me the battery he put in it was junk anyways, but im sure its the alternator, im gonna take it down the street to see what my batterys running at, if anyone knows whats going on could you please help, would rather not pay a mechanic.

The battery or alternator could be the root of the problem and would be my first places to check. The battery may be shot, the alternator shot not allowing the battery to charge, or the alternator shot taking out the battery in the process. Either are fairly easy to test and many part stores will test for free these days.

for free lol every place i called was around 30, i excluded napa, and a few other shops, i could give them a ring too but i mean every place i called said they wanted 30 unless i take my alternator out, and i dont feel like taking it out, getting it checked finding out its fine putting it back in, if i take it out a new ones going in LOL

Problem figured out, my friend just got home so i booked up to her house and took a reading of my battery off a voltometer, and it said it was 12 off 13.65 running so my alternator is working, so the battery was junk thanks those who helped

Call me crazy, but I thought your alternator MUST run above 14V (14.1, I thought was the actual number).

really lemme go check some sources, im pretty sure 12 and under means the battery is running all by itself without the alternator, but you could be right

Isaac
Gold Member
Username: Carguy

Post Number: 1187
Registered: Nov-04
Posted on Friday, January 21, 2005 - 11:13 pm:

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Guy, you need to get it checked out asap! If your alternator is dead, then your battery will die shortly cause nothing's charging it. Remember, a reg battery will become useless if the voltage drops below 12v. It can't be revived. So do yourself a favour and visit a car garage soon. It's bad enough wasting money on a new alternator, but a battery too?
FYI, when an alternator is working, your reading should be 13.5 - 14.4 v. If you get 12v, it means you're getting all if not most of the power from your battery.
I went through the same problem when the alternator died in my Mustang. Well actually I wasn't that lucky, my battery died first, then the alternator. So I ended up replacing both.

i had pretty much the exact same problem, and it was the battery, and if your dad said he knows the battery is junk, i'd start there.......

yeah im going to now, but for some reason i had my doubts it was only the battery but now i know it is just the battery

Get optima battery. Works wonders. I got the red top. $110 and totally rocks starting during freezing winters.