banksie312 Posted January 7, 2006 Report Share Posted January 7, 2006 i left a light on in my car about 2 weeks agothe car started but with hesitance at first, but none the less started up first tryi let it run for a half hour and then i drove it for about 15 minutes figuring the alternator would charge the battery back upeverythings been fine with it and ive been super careful with the lights on and stuffso i go to my friends house and as im leaving to go home...i put the key in and move it to position 2, i get all the lights and then try and start it and nothing happensall my lights are gone, instrument panel, headlights, everythingcraptry to jump it and it eventually works (the next day due to lack of jumper cables) so once its jumped my dad and i wait a few minutes and rev the engine a little bit and i get in and begin turning aroundthe car just diesmy dad though that i stalled out and i told him i wasnt even close, and i wasntso we jump it again and he drives it like a block and we get to the top of a hill and i see all the lights turn off (i was in his car) we roll it backwards down the hill to park (like 10 feet) and then head to sears for a batteryget itget it in and it works but im going to get the alternator check outdo you think this is the alternator?also...what is the little light in the dash next to the trip computer is it....time, temp, avg mph, etc. it has like a snowflake next to it or something and a little orange light turns onthat comes on randomly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rp850 Posted January 7, 2006 Report Share Posted January 7, 2006 OK Easy one first...Snowflake on the dash is an ice warning. Comes on at about 36 degrees and below.If the alternator is working it should be charging the battery while the car is running. Once you get it jumped, take a voltage reading across the battery. It should be something like at least 13.5 or 14.5 volts. More knowledgeable folks might know exactly what the threshhold is here. If it's 12V I would suspect the alternator is not doing its job.i left a light on in my car about 2 weeks agothe car started but with hesitance at first, but none the less started up first tryi let it run for a half hour and then i drove it for about 15 minutes figuring the alternator would charge the battery back upeverythings been fine with it and ive been super careful with the lights on and stuffso i go to my friends house and as im leaving to go home...i put the key in and move it to position 2, i get all the lights and then try and start it and nothing happensall my lights are gone, instrument panel, headlights, everythingcraptry to jump it and it eventually works (the next day due to lack of jumper cables) so once its jumped my dad and i wait a few minutes and rev the engine a little bit and i get in and begin turning aroundthe car just diesmy dad though that i stalled out and i told him i wasnt even close, and i wasntso we jump it again and he drives it like a block and we get to the top of a hill and i see all the lights turn off (i was in his car) we roll it backwards down the hill to park (like 10 feet) and then head to sears for a batteryget itget it in and it works but im going to get the alternator check outdo you think this is the alternator?also...what is the little light in the dash next to the trip computer is it....time, temp, avg mph, etc. it has like a snowflake next to it or something and a little orange light turns onthat comes on randomly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yangotang Posted January 7, 2006 Report Share Posted January 7, 2006 Again, the easiest way to check if the battery is fried is to (jump) start the car then disconnect the battery completely. If the car dies, then your alternator is done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rp850 Posted January 7, 2006 Report Share Posted January 7, 2006 I was gonna say that!!! I was gonna say that!!!Again, the easiest way to check if the battery is fried is to (jump) start the car then disconnect the battery completely. If the car dies, then your alternator is done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziddey Posted January 7, 2006 Report Share Posted January 7, 2006 Again, the easiest way to check if the battery is fried is to (jump) start the car then disconnect the battery completely. If the car dies, then your alternator is done.i was going to say that too but i remember in the past i got yelled at by everyone saying how there is no car with a regulator good enough to have it be "safe" for all the electronics to have it run with altenator only and no battery and that it was very bad for everything Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rp850 Posted January 7, 2006 Report Share Posted January 7, 2006 I'm glad I didn't say it!!! I'm glad I didn't say it!!! Seriously, if the car can be jumped to start but doesn't stay running you almost accomplish the same thing. Once the car starts, you don't need the battery anymore (unless you shut the car off) i was going to say that too but i remember in the past i got yelled at by everyone saying how there is no car with a regulator good enough to have it be "safe" for all the electronics to have it run with altenator only and no battery and that it was very bad for everything Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziddey Posted January 7, 2006 Report Share Posted January 7, 2006 yeah i understand that. but i also do understand that the battery really does help keep the voltage regulated more than the regulator would be able to. case in point, i had a plymouth horizon and i did the battery unplug test and my tachometer went all the way to the end and got stuck there for a few days. eventually i hit a bump really harshly and it jolted it back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rp850 Posted January 7, 2006 Report Share Posted January 7, 2006 That makes sense and is good to know. Thanks! I'm a little skittish around electricity anyway and I personally prefer to use a voltmeter rather than disconnect anything while the car is running. yeah i understand that. but i also do understand that the battery really does help keep the voltage regulated more than the regulator would be able to. case in point, i had a plymouth horizon and i did the battery unplug test and my tachometer went all the way to the end and got stuck there for a few days. eventually i hit a bump really harshly and it jolted it back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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