Battery light came on and now car will not start

LANEY73

MEMBER
2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO
1.8L
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
165,314 MILES

Battery light came on. Had battery and alternator checked. Turned out I needed a new battery. Replaced battery. Car drove for about an hour before light came back on and the car stalled and now it will not start. I can get it to start with a jump but once they remove the cable wires it shuts off out again. What can it be?

2 Replies

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,870 POSTS

The alternator is not charging did you have the alternator tested out of the car? That might explain why it tested good because the problem is when it is hooked up to the car with the wiring power feeds etc. Or the alternator might not charge when it reaches a certain temperature from the engine running. Here is a guide to get you started let me know what you find:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-alternator

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Sunday, December 24th, 2017 AT 8:05 AM

HARRY P

MECHANIC
2,293 POSTS

If I may jump in here, many cars have a fuse that protects the battery from a shorted alternator. I have looked up the fuse box diagram for the under-hood power distribution center, and there are several fuses that could potentially have something to do with this. I do not have the time right now to really narrow it down, so take a look at fuses 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 49. If they are blown and protect the alternator, they will keep the alternator from actually charging the battery. Then the battery has to run the car all by itself, and eventually goes bad doing so. The diagram is attached below.

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