In the future, please do not perform the battery cable disconnect to check for alternator operation. While it holds true that by disconnecting the battery, you get all your electricity from the alternator, that misconception does not proof anything with newer, more modern vehicles, such as yours. As such, your alternator "test" (engine running with battery disconnected) is flawed if your alternator is only pushing 12 volts. If your battery has run out of juice after being installed for 2 days, and the vehicle died while it was in motion, all these signs are pointing to low alternator output.
What I suggest is that you fully charge the battery using an external battery charger (not by hooking it up to another vehicle's alternator). If you don't have a battery charger handy, you may take the battery to an auto parts store (O'Reilly or Autozone, for example) and they can charge the battery for free.
Re-install the battery into the vehicle and drive the vehicle back to the parts store and ask them to test your electrical system (battery, starter, and alternator). Please post what they find out about the alternator.
Wednesday, April 8th, 2009 AT 7:19 PM
