Car completely shut down including all electrical

Tiny
NLEWIS0701
  • MEMBER
  • 2014 FORD FIESTA
  • 1.6L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 89,000 MILES
Yesterday while waiting to pick up my dad (we were waiting only five or so minutes and he lives only about two miles away) the battery light in the dash turned on while the car was on. My husband was driving the car at the time and brought the light to my attention before we could do anything the engine temperature warning light came on. We immediately pulled over, stopped the car and turned it off. We left the car there to cool off for six or so hours and got a ride. When we went back later that night to pick up the car everything seemed fine at first but then the warning battery light came back on but at that point we were in our neighborhood (less than half a mile away from our home) and wanted to get the car back to our house. At this point all the lights started to turn on, ABS, power-train, battery, so on. My car then completely shut down. Anything electrical in my care was off, no lights, no dash, no power steering. I couldn't even roll up my windows. I tried to put my foot on the gas and nothing but the engine was on and still running. My husband pushed the car the 100 feet to our home. Once home we put the car in park and shut it off for about fifteen minutes. When I tried to start it back up, it wouldn't turn over. My husband gave me a jump (which worked) and I was able to drive my car in the driveway (this time only the battery light turned on but the car was only on for two minutes). What could this mean? My car is listed above SE model with the same battery that I bought the car with. Is it electric? Do I just need a new battery? Just to top it all off, I just got the title in the mail last week -_-
Tuesday, July 2nd, 2019 AT 11:29 AM

1 Reply

Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello,

This sounds like you could have an issue with your vehicle's serpentine belt. The serpentine belt on your vehicle drives the water pump, A/C compressor, and also the alternator. The alternator is what charges your battery. If the alternator is not charging the battery the vehicle will run for a little bit until the battery is drained to the point where the Power-train Control Module (PCM) will start to shut down because it doesn't have the electricity needed to run. Sure you can jump start it and the battery will have enough juice to go 100 yards or so, but that's about it. Here are a few links below for you to go to:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-a-serpentine-belt-works
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-a-serpentine-belt-tensioner-works
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-serpentine-belt

I have also included a diagram and callout for your vehicle's serpentine belt in the diagrams down below. Please go through these guides and get back to us with what you are able to find out.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros
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Wednesday, July 3rd, 2019 AT 5:04 AM

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