Justaname

So I just bought this car about a month ago. It's a standard and I can't drive it. Also insurance is like ******* 1700 a year at the cheapest so I can't afford to insure the ******* thing....

So it's been just kind of sitting in my driveway.

When I bought it the guy who sold it to me picked me up in it, we took it to a garage where they put it on a lift and said everything looked really good for the year, then he drove me home and left it there because I bought it.

So I started it up once or twice the first few days to try to get a feel for the clutch. That didn't go well.

Then I let it sit for a week and tried again. Dead battery. Wouldn't even start to turn on... So I got a boost and then let it run in the driveway for half an hour.

Let it sit for another 2 weeks and same thing. Totally dead battery. I got another boost and let it run in the driveway for a half an hour.

Then i let it sit overnight and the next day it's dead again...

So..is my battery dead then? or is it something else?

When I try to start it now the batter light comes on and the oil light and another light beside them and the drl light and I think that's it.

The last time I boosted it I noticed the drl light and maintenance required lights were on...

Shaunybo1

Battery light on indicates low voltage input. So either your battery isn't holding a charge or something is drawing power from it while the car is off. But, did you let it sit at idle in your driveway on it's own power after getting a jump? If so, alternator should be ok, if not, your alternator might not be charging or at least charging at a low voltage. Best way to do this is with a volt ohm meter. Check your battery terminals while it's off, should read 12-13 volts DC, unless it's not getting a proper charge or it's not holding the charge. Turn the car on(might require a jump, but let it run on it's own power after the jump), then check the battery again and see if the voltage is increasing/decreasing/staying the same. If the voltage increases on it's own power, the alternator is doing it's job, but it still could be something else drawing power while it's off. If the voltage stays the same(unless it was already at the 12-13 volts prior), then it could be the alternator or the connections between the battery and alternator. In which case, you need the check the voltage coming out of the alternator while the car is on. I forget what voltage you're suppose to see, might have to look that up. Lemme know what you find, I'll try to help as best I can.

EDIT:Also, if you're not good at these sort of things, have someone who is do this. If you end up bridging the terminals on the battery or alternator(especially while the car is on), you might shock the **** outta yourself. Proceed with care.

Almighty-Si

If your car starts up every time you jump start it, why would anything else be wrong with your car?

His alternator is fine, there is nothing to check. Your battery from being dead, jump started, dying, being jump started...is killing the cells internally which is the reason your car will not hold a charge. Sitting and letting the car idle, is not enough to properly charge the battery to capacity when dead. The car needs sustained rpm...not revving your motor in your driveway, driving load, to properly charge it.

Buy a new battery, start your car. When you're done, disconnect the battery until you're ready to start it up again and or are ready to start driving the car.

Ramcharger310

1. Disconnect and pull your battery out.
2. Get ride from family/friend/walk to local Autozone.
3. Have them test your battery (for free) and see if it's the culprit.

EM2abe

go get a new battery. period.