alternator or battery....confused

[willhholla1]

jus got a 92 lx and it was running fine. the next couple days when i started the car i noticed the battery was weaker each time then one day no start. i jumped the car and drove it around and when i stopped i had to press the gas to keep the car running which made me believe it was the alternator. car cut off once but it started right up no problem.

the car set for a day then i tested the battery with a multimeter and got 10v which is a little lower than normal. i jumped the car and pulled off the jumper cables and tested the battery while running and i got 14.4v which would mean the alternator is charging. so i turned the car off and then the battery was reading 11.3v.

so i tried to start the car and all i got was the instrument panel lights and the headlights will turn on.
jumped the car and let it set for a minute then i drove around the neighborhood and it didnt try to cut off everytime i stopped

where should i go from here???

[Vancefish]

Likely the battery. Sounds like it doesn't actually hold the charge. You should be reading just over 12v when the car is shut off.

Although if you just bought the car, you should expect a few other issues.

I'm pretty sure your battery is toast though. When your batter is full, your alternator will turn down closer to 13.5v. It's showing 14.4v because the battery is very low. Over charging a dying battery can of course kill it faster, but what can you do?

[h22sparkle]

It's your batter definitely. You see you need juice to get the car started. When it gets cold outside unless that battery has enough cold cranking amps or if the batter is old it will drain juice. Overtime as it gets older the battery will lose its charge.

If your starting the car and it drains the batter and doesnt have enough power to hold charge and goes below the amount it wont be enough to crank the car all you will hear is the car trying to crank basically a rapid constistant ticking noise.

Time to get a new battery dont let the people in the store especially sears tell you the battery is good because it isnt. No offense to anyone who works at sears but the one around my way no good.

[willhholla1]

Thnx. Usually when the car stops cutting off while driving its usually the alternator. Changin the battery tonight

[Vancefish]

Over eight years I've put two cheapo batteries in my 92 LX. When I bought it, and about three years ago.

Both times (first drive and three years ago), the car started running lousy, hesitation, dash lights dimming with the blinker flashes....

A new battery will likely open power you were unaware had been lost.

My new SE had a bad battery too. I swapped yesterday, now my coupe runs kinda lousy.