When I was about to leave for work today, my car was dead. It would not even turn over. So I had my friend jump my car and when it was jumped, my car started up fine, but my battery wont stay charged for some reason. While im driving it, the light still flashes and makes this buzzing noise in my dash. When I go park it and let it sit for like 30 min, the battery is dead again. Is it my alternator that has gone bad or is it just my battery? Please help, I need to get this back on the road.

 

put a volt meter on your battery. With the car running it will have 14.5 volts if the alternator is charging.

 

Its gonna be your battery that's the problem. If it were your alternator, chances are your car would cut out in the middle of your drive.

 

Battery. Don't drive it anymore till you change it. You're stressing your alternator!

 

When you are driving and your battery is still charged then your alt. is fine. If its bad your batt will start to drain really quick. So if thats the case change your alternator. Now on your battery it doesnt matter what the meter tells you while its charging. To find out put it on charge and get it full. Check your voltage with your meter and write down the voltage. Now disconnect the positive lead on your terminal and wait overnight. The batt should have the same charge. If its low then you have a short and you need a new one.

 

wow, I swore I made a post here - something about a 5 spot that is was a dead battery... any one else having deja vu?