hey guys i need some help

[Your_Dead]

im having issues with my car(once again). okay for the past few weeks if i had the headlights on and then put my turn signals on, my radio would die. i figured a short somewhere. then it started to kill the the radio when you signaled to turn even if the headlights weren't on. also if turned the car off but kept the headlights on for like 5 mins. you would come back to a dead battery.so yesterday as i was driving around the radio was just dying all by itself so i park it and go to start it and nothing. the battery is brand new and has enough charge to run the radio and turn the head lights on but just not enough to start the car. all it takes to get it started is a little bit of juice from another car(i mean just barely put the cabels on and it will start). im thinking its a dead/dying alternator but im not sure. any help would be apperciated. i didnt have time to search the forums so if this has been covered please link me(normally i search but im late for work due to having to jump start it. thanks for your help. gotta run

 

[Old Mitsu Tech]

Get a cheap voltmeter and check your alternator output. Should be 13.5 to 14.5 volts. If the battery is dead it will register less until the battery is fully charged. A fully charged battery is 12.6 volts. Charge the battery and then test the alternator. If it is not charging at those volts then you either have a bad alternator or in some cases I've seen the alternator belt is real loose and in a couple of cases it was missing. Good Luck

 

[Your_Dead]

wow im stupid i didn't even think about checking it. thats what to much work and lack of sleep will do to you. i have a really high quality voltmeter that i use for work and the thought never even crossed my mind to check it. well i guess i know what im off to do