A bad alternator won't keep it from starting.

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Nov 14, 2019
8:48:21am

John Doe All-American

A bad alternator may kill the battery, but the alternator is part of the charging system, not the starting system.

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John Doe

Bio page: John Doe
Joined: Oct 23, 2010
Last login: Jun 17, 2024
Total posts: 38,985 (678 FO)

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Messages

Author

Time

Tried jump starting the car. Wouldn't start. What's next?

Cougarrr

11/14/19 7:31am

Dude, have it towed to a shop, it's your fuel pump

Zip

11/14/19 7:38am

I'm afraid you might be right.

Cougarrr

11/14/19 8:08am

Are you sure you hooked the jumper cables up to the correct ears?

foofcoug

11/14/19 7:41am

XL Pizza dishes?

MC Coug Blue

11/14/19 7:46am

What type of car were you using to jump and what type of car were you jumping?

scall

11/14/19 7:42am

Beware the cheap set of jumper cables, too.

Corn Pop

11/14/19 7:51am

Some details if you would, please...

Ned Schneebly

11/14/19 7:45am

Need more information. Your original post said your car has progressively

BYUMizzou

11/14/19 7:45am

So far it sounds like a failing starter motor or a bad/corroded ground connection at the battery.

Bert609

11/14/19 7:57am

That's my guess too. I generally categorize failure to start problems into 3

BYUMizzou

11/14/19 8:00am

CLogged fuel filter?

CarolinaCoug

11/14/19 7:48am

More information

Cougarrr

11/14/19 8:04am

So what you have is an electrical issue, not a fuel delivery issue. You're not

BYUMizzou

11/14/19 8:10am

Yup, pull the negative terminal off and bang it against something and see if any corrosion comes out, my

Bert609

11/14/19 8:20am

Check your battery terminals and cables. Take them off and clean with a terminal

LaserCoug

11/14/19 8:12am

If you want to isolate if it's the battery, jump it this way.

Troy McClure

11/14/19 8:12am

You could also swap out the battery with another car but I'm too lazy

Troy McClure

11/14/19 8:16am

You can do that, but don't run a car very long without the cables hooked to

BYUMizzou

11/14/19 8:17am

Very true. As long as the jumper cables are connected they should be ok.

Troy McClure

11/14/19 8:22am

Haven't tried that before.... makes sense though. Thanks for the idea!

Ned Schneebly

11/14/19 8:28am

I had never heard of a dead battery interfering with the ability to jump

Troy McClure

11/14/19 8:32am

A dead battery will suck the life out of the jumping

hitechcpa

11/14/19 8:38am

I knew that about dead batteries... some just truly die and a jump won't cut it.

Ned Schneebly

11/14/19 8:42am

RE: More information

Ned Schneebly

11/14/19 8:13am

No noise most of the time. Once in a while it will sound like it starting to

Cougarrr

11/14/19 8:16am

I think it's just a power supply issue then.

Ned Schneebly

11/14/19 8:25am

So assuming it is not the battery, that is what my 06 Honda Accord did before the starter went out.

scall

11/14/19 8:15am

It's your alternator. Take it to the shop.

SJS

11/14/19 8:39am

A bad alternator won't keep it from starting.

John Doe

11/14/19 8:48am

It absolutely can. Let me tell you the story of my 86 Corolla

SJS

11/14/19 8:50am

I think it might be my battery cables. They look terrible.

Cougarrr

11/14/19 8:43am

If you're handy then it'll only set you back $20 and about 30-45 minutes.

Ned Schneebly

11/14/19 8:48am

Cheap jumper cables have caused more bad diagnoses and wasted time than most people will ever admit.

John Doe

11/14/19 8:50am

These are good jumper cables for the price. I have a 25' pair. I can jump a

BYUMizzou

11/14/19 8:55am

1 gauge? Nice.

John Doe

11/14/19 9:00am

Nice Humblebrag!!!

Troy McClure

11/14/19 9:02am

Funny story. About 20 years ago I had an old Mercury Tracer

Troy McClure

11/14/19 9:01am

Usually, the end is all you need to replace. Depending on the car, cables can be quite pricey and difficult.

John Doe

11/14/19 11:43am

You should....

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