my car is dead. i was told i needed a new alternator. so i got a used one and it is still dead. it works if you jump it but dies shortly after. what could be the problem. everything electrical shuts down a few minutes after you jump it. help please

 

Well, how about the battery? Once I was told by an incompetent Kragen worker that my alternator needed replacement, but in the end it was my battery

 

the stupid kragen dudes told us that it the battery still had enough "cold cranking amps." dude recharge the battery, drove it home and guess what, it died again. so what could it be?

 

a grounded wire somewhere. PITA to find if that's the case, i swear. if you could make it to autozone, they can find out any electrical/charging problems w/ the car for free.

 

you know what buy a new battery it sounds like it cant hold the charge anymore. CCA (cold cranking amps)doesnt really count unless u use it as for starting the car only..........

 

take the battery to autozone. they'll test it for free. don't waste your $50 on a new one until you know that's the problem.

 

thanks for the help.. its was a bad alternator after all