well..i just got a new battery cuz my other one died...and now this one died...my car wouldnt start so i push started it...and it ran for a little while...until i noticed my rpm and mph needle jittering around then finally dropping...my car started to die...and i gave it gas to go...and it started backfiring like crazy and barely made it to the gas station....any suggestions to what it might be?

 

alternator failure

 

i love u mem..always there...haha...but yea i was thinkin that...the battery light doesnt come onthough...u think thats it? would it cause that much backfire?

 

did your lights dim?? then go from dim to not coming on at all?? if they wont come on at all...thats an alternator problem ...especially since your last battery died...how long did your last battery last??? few days??? maybe a week?? if so...alternator

 

lasted a little less than a week

 

and it wasnt at night when it happened...so im not sure if anything dimmed...but right now..when i put the key in...the lights seem fine...but it doesnt have enough juice to crank over

 

yea your alternator either has a slipping belt (thats what mine did) or is gone..you hearing a squealing like a loose belt??? (prior before the engine not being able to start)....if so...go outside and check the alternator belt..see if there is any slack in it..if there is...there is your answer

 

nope i actually fixed the belt problem i had...no noise(i know what you are talkin about) so it must be a bad alternator

 

yea either bad alternator or the wire connections from the alternator...those can sometimes go bad...so check the connectors before you buy a new alternator

 

how would i check them? can i just pull an alternator off a friends car and use it and see wat happens? or is there an easier way to check?

 

pull your alternator...take it to autozone...advanced auto...and they will test it for you...i believe they have a machine

 

oh ok cool...ty for your time and input