Is battery shot???

[tbird]

Is my battery shot, I replaced my alternator, then jumped the car to get it started, well ill drive around with no problems after I turn the car off then start it the battery is pretty much dead? If I jump the car again and hook up a tester to the terminals it showed around 13-14 volts? so it looks like the alternator is doing its job so is the battery just junk???

 

[GTM]

Originally posted by tbird
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If I jump the car again and hook up a tester to the terminals it showed around 13-14 volts? so it looks like the alternator is doing its job so is the battery just junk???

No no no, that is no proof either are doing their job. You should put the battery on a charger overnight though a shop may be able to test it in 5 min. Your charging voltage is too low, should be 14.2-- 14.7 or .8. Since you have replaced the Alt. you could take the battery to a parts store where they can test it if you can't charge overnight. If you can put another known good battery in there and then charge it with the Alt. for 5 min you should have different voltage results than what you have reported.

If you have a fully charged battery, pull the headlights on for 1 min, turn them off and start the car. Basic rule of thumb is you should have 35 amps output at charging voltage above.

Cheers,
GTM