Car won't start-- dead battery or alternator?

Take it to Auto Zone or Advanced Auto if possible. They can test for the problem (for free). If the battery hasn't been changed in 5 years, try changing that out. If it still doesn't work, it is your alternator. The battery tends to get drained when the alternator requires an extra boost.

You have a battery with planned obsolescence.

Battery manufacturers know that over time battery acid deteriorates certain types of metal parts inside a battery, so they make critical internal components out of that material knowing that shortly after the warranty expires, the battery will self-destruct.

That's why when you buy a battery, always compare warranties and buy the longest warranty for the least money and be sure to keep the receipt and warranty paperwork in a ziplock baggy in your glove box.

Then when (not if) your battery doesn't work, simply drive to the place where you got it and get another battery and take advantage of the warranty if it's not expired yet. If it's expired, don't buy that brand again.

I've been doing this ever since I discovered the scam, and I just know I'll always be paying so much per year for each year of the battery warranty.

There's no way around it.

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Battery Or Alternator

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Car won't start-- dead battery or alternator?

Yesterday I took the car out, went into the store, came out and the car wouldn't start. (No, no lights were left on, I checked.) Nothing happened at all, some lights came on inside and then dimmed right away. I tried to get a jump and couldn't, and it seemed to be because of the corrosion...

It could be either one. If your alternator is out, it will drain the battery, so it is possible that you will have to replace both.

A mechanic will be able to test your alternator. Make sure this happens. Because if they just assume it's your battery, you could ruin a second one before they look at your alternator.

Generally speaking an OEM battery life expectancy is 5 yrs. or less. A simple volt meter test will tell you what the state of charge is in the battery. A fully charged battery should test 12.5 volts with the motor off. 13.5 - 14.0 volts with it running. If you don't see 13.5 -14.0 volts while the engine is running the alternator is suspect.

From your description your cables should be soaked in baking soda/water mix paste to get rid of the blue / green / white crust. They should be brushed and coated with battery terminal coat or spray before connecting to a fresh new battery.

It could be both. When your car is running, the power comes from the alternater. The battery only serves to start the car.

I would replace the battery since it is 5 years old. You can test your alternator by doing the following:

While your car is running, unhook the positive side of the battery, if your car continues to run, the alternator is not the problem, if the engines dies when you unhook the battery then the alternator is the problem.

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