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Car Wont Start!

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Old Sep 14, 2011 | 03:39 PM
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From: lenexa ks
Default Car Wont Start!

Yesturday I went to start my car and it ran fine and then when i got home from work the car didn't have enough power to even roll up the windows. I put a battery pack on the battery and the car started up fine and the windows went right up. The display show low voltage and my voltage is sitting at 9.8 volts. The battery is maybe a year old and the connections are good. i went to start my car this morning and it ticks but does not turn over. I was wondering if i need to replace the alternator and if so how do i do it?

Thanks,
Matt
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Old Sep 14, 2011 | 03:43 PM
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Originally Posted by topkart43
Yesturday I went to start my car and it ran fine and then when i got home from work the car didn't have enough power to even roll up the windows. I put a battery pack on the battery and the car started up fine and the windows went right up. The display show low voltage and my voltage is sitting at 9.8 volts. The battery is maybe a year old and the connections are good. i went to start my car this morning and it ticks but does not turn over. I was wondering if i need to replace the alternator and if so how do i do it?

Thanks,
Matt
How do you know the battery is good?
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Old Sep 14, 2011 | 03:50 PM
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From: Anthony TX
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FIRST THINGS FIRST! Take that battery out and have it properly tested at one of the autoparts stores. If its that low, they will have to recharge it to properly test it.

MAKE SURE that they test the battery reserve capacity and cold cranking voltage under load.

IF,,, the battery test good,, what voltage do you have at the battery terminals with the engine running?

13.5 - 14.7 is normal 14.2 is the norm on most C5s.

If you have normal charging voltage i doubt that the alternator is bad. If you have lower than normal voltage, you may have a wireing issue at the starter solenoid or on the back of the alternator or defective battery terminal connections.


BC
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Old Sep 14, 2011 | 03:51 PM
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Certainly sounds like a bad battery. You'll need to get a fully charged battery into the car, then start it up, then measure the power at the battery while its running.
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