Topic: Battery/Alternator Problem

[GBJeep]

So I got a new battery about 2 months ago because my old one tested at like 160 cold cranking amps and was at least 7 years old.  Since then it has been great.  Last week I left my lights on at work and needed to be jumped.  3 days later I leave for a week and come back on monday and it barely turns over.  So today (wednesday) it again barely starts, i drive to work (3 miles) and once I park it I try to start it again and it wont.  I get the "click, click, click noise.

I am assuming my alternator is not charging my battery.  Any thoughts or am i thinking this through right?

[sharpxmen]

So I got a new battery about 2 months ago because my old one tested at like 160 cold cranking amps and was at least 7 years old.  Since then it has been great.  Last week I left my lights on at work and needed to be jumped.  3 days later I leave for a week and come back on monday and it barely turns over.  So today (wednesday) it again barely starts, i drive to work (3 miles) and once I park it I try to start it again and it wont.  I get the "click, click, click noise.

I am assuming my alternator is not charging my battery.  Any thoughts or am i thinking this through right?

jump it and measure the voltage. Also, since you just got the battery take the Jeep to the place you bought it from, they will check the charging and if it turns out good they should replace you battery (all of them come with at least a 1 year warranty, 3 and even 5 years for high end ones).

[Dylan]

What is your voltage gauge reading when the engine is running?  Have you checked your battery cables and connections?

A quick 3 mile jaunt to work isn't sufficient for your alternator to recharge a depleted battery.

[BigCountry]

You said you got a click click click when you tried turning it over? sounds like your starting issue is the starter itself. just replaced my starter about a year ago. same issue as you had...

[Jeffy]

Could be the alternator or the battery or the starter.  Although I would probably suspect the alternator if you replaced the battery.  I'd hook up another battery and see if it starts.  Most car parts stores will test the alternator, battery or starter for free.

I'd consider upgrading alternators if it comes down to you needing a new one.

[GBJeep]

So I jumped it yesterday and let it run for about 45 minutes, shut it off, started it about 2 hours later, ran on the highway for 10 minutes, shut it off, started it 10 minutes later and went home.

This morning I went to start it and I got the slow turn over and then the click, click. 

Battery is 2 months old, and starter is about a year old.  It is now 25* here in Green Bay and I don't have a garage so off to the shop we go this afternoon.

It does start fine when hooked up to jumper cables.  Like right away as if the battery was full.  The gauge reads right in the middle when running.  I hope it is just a bad battery so I can use the warranty for it.

[neale_rs]

My guess is the new battery got damaged by being run down completely but I would still check the voltage at the battery with the car both on and off to see if it is charging before getting another one.

[Jeffy]

I'd check the battery.  If it's running fine then it's probably not the alternator as the engine is running straight off that once it's going.

First make sure your terminals are on there tight.  If they're loose, it might not be charging completely.  You can have the battery tested as well.  Although swapping the battery under warranty and driving will tell you if it was the battery soon enough.

[Dylan]

Hopefully it is a bad battery, but it sounds like you may have a slow power draw with the ignition off, hence why it would start after two hours sitting but not after sitting overnight.

[BigCountry]

Oh. another thing i had an issue with that i just remembered. check and make sure your ground is connected and is clean. i had to fix that before i replaced the starter. also check the ground to the ECU. my ground for that went bad and i couldn't even turn the jeep on.

[GBJeep]

Yeah, so it was a "bad battery" they said.  They only charged me $10 to install.  Back to normal, for now.

[neale_rs]

Great. Let's hope that is all it was.