Car problem

wodom1

I'm hoping one of you car guys can help me out with a car problem I'm having: Yesterday morning I went to start my '02 Dodge Durango and the battery was dead. I didn't think too much of it and called for a jump. The tow truck arrives and give me a jump. The starter would turn, but the engine wouldn't catch unless I held that gas pedal down, and then it sounded like crap. A few minutes later I tried starting it on its own and the engine turned over, but while driving around the block, the tach would drop down to 200-300 RPM's as soon as I let off of the gas and it felt like the engine was going to die. 10 minutes later I tried it again and there were no problems at all. I decided to make my 6 hour, 400 mile trip to Iowa and didn't have a single problem along the way, including turning off and re-starting twice. I got to my jobsite, parked, and left the car for a couple hours, and now the battery is dead again. Any ideas what is going on here? I need to get it fixed before I go back home to Chicago on Friday. Any/all advice would be greatly appreciated!

Josh

shack

Probably a bad battery. It's not holding a charge. While the engine is running the battery is getting some charge from the alternator but loses the charge when stopped. The rough running is probably due to the computer having to recalibrate when you lost power. Go by any auto parts store and they will be able to test both the battery and alternator. It is possible that the alternator is not charging the battery and once the battery runs out of power it has to be recharged. I'm betting on a bad battery.

edbert

Take your car to Autozone, O'reillys, Napa, whatever and have them test your battery. It's a free service. Not only that, but they can check to make sure your engine isn't throwing any trouble codes that are not giving you a check engine light. I know that at Autozone or O'reilly's does this for free as well, but yeah, it sounds like a battery issue.

Hopefully an easy fix.

wodom1

I bought the battery in November so I don't think that's the problem. I just got it jumped and tried to drive it to a dodge dealership in Mason City, IA and after only a couple miles, the electrical gauge pegged in the red for too much voltage and different warning lights started flashing on the info. center display, as well as engine power fluctuating. I pulled off to the side of I-35, turned it off and tried to jump it again, but it wouldn't start. I ended up calling for a tow and it's on its way to the dealership now. I'm hoping that whatever the problem is isn't going to cost me a small fortune.

sucks2beme

Just read the last message. Wow. Bad part of the world to break down.
Sounds like the voltage regulator/alternator.
Maybe it's time to check out sophie's new 2 channel over in Clear Lake and chill a while!

wodom1

sucks2beme wrote: »

Just read the last message. Wow. Bad part of the world to break down.
Sounds like the voltage regulator/alternator.
Maybe it's time to check out sophie's new 2 channel over in Clear Lake and chill a while!

Yeah, there's not too much out here...I was less than a mile from my project-site and had a co-worker following who brought me back to the office after the tow truck arrived. I'm staying in a hotel in Mason City and some co-workers are in Clear Lake, so I'm not too far away.

sucks2beme

My old part of the world. Grew up about 15 miles east of there on a farm.
Turned 18 and bailed. Still much the same. Except older.:D

Bamadude

Sorry to hear the troubles. Sounds like the alternator to me too. My old Camaro did the same thing with all the gages going nuts and that's what it was. My experience with alternators is that replacements from parts stores suck. I've had much better luck with shops that specialize in alternator and starter rebuilds since they will build you one with higher quality (OEM spec) parts that will last a LOT longer and cost only a little more. If you do end up buying a battery I would suggest an Optima. Bought one a few years ago and it's tough as nails.

-justin-

I think I figured out the problem...it's a Dodge Durango.

~J

MikeC78

Definetly sounds like battery to me. It was already addressed, but I'd take it to one of those auto stores to have a charging load test done.

Just because you recently put a new one in, doesn't mean it isn't bad. I had one go bad in less than six months, and it was one of those expensive sealed Optima brands.

I wouldn't wait to long, having a bad battery is HARD on the alternator and will eventually throw it out too. Sounds to me that the alternator is working "double-duty".

jcaut

Yep, not unusual at all to get a bad battery. Also check for loose/corroded battery cables, as they account for a good percentage of "battery problems".

treitz3

You guys are SO way off. This is an easy fix. Fill up the air in your right rear tire and all will be well.

SLOCOOKN

A couple of things. While the truck is running you could disconnect the battery to verify that the alternator is functioning properly. You will want to check the tension of the belt and the belt. The belt may need to be replaced. Clean all battery connections.

MikeC78

Just make it easier and get it tested.

disneyjoe7

You need a new Battery. If it runs 400 miles with out a problem, then you can't start it again... Battery thats all. I just throw out a 23 month battery which I believe was under warranty but I switch brands do to a DOA battery act. Died while trying to start wouldn't even light the headlights.

MacLeod

It probably is the battery but I think it could also be the alternator. The thing that makes me say that is the engine lugging down to 200 RPM's. You would have to draw a LOT of voltage to lug the engine down that low, even then its doubtful. I vote alternator.

Let us know what the dealer says.

MikeC78

MacLeod wrote: »

It probably is the battery but I think it could also be the alternator. The thing that makes me say that is the engine lugging down to 200 RPM's. You would have to draw a LOT of voltage to lug the engine down that low, even then its doubtful. I vote alternator.

Let us know what the dealer says.

Not going to argue, but explain how it would make the vehicle run for a long extended time period off the battery? Sounds to me that the alternator might be going bad also, because of what I said before about it pulling double duty.

MacLeod

Im no mechanic so Im actually talking out my **** right now but I was thinking perhaps the alternator is working half assed. Working ok sometimes and then crapping out some other times and thats when things go haywire.

engtaz

Bad battery can drag down a cars electronics.

MacLeod

True but all the way down to 200 RPM's?

MikeC78

MacLeod wrote: »

Im no mechanic so Im actually talking out my **** right now but I was thinking perhaps the alternator is working half assed. Working ok sometimes and then crapping out some other times and thats when things go haywire.

The alternator is probably working half ****. When the battery goes to crap, the alternator is on overload and will die out quick.

Serendipity

I don't know much about cars, but I would think it's either the battery or regulator or charging circuit. Or you may have more than one problem as it takes a LOT of current drawn from the (working?) alternator to drag the engine down to 200 RPMs...

Maybe a short somewhere?

disneyjoe7

My vote Battery

wodom1

It actually turned out to be something incredibly simple -- corrosion inside the neg. battery cable. I won't have more info. on why exactly it would make the car run the way it was until tomorrow. The dealership ran tests on the battery and alternator and said they're good. Thanks for all the help and suggestions though. It was a bad feeling knowing that I'm basically in the middle of nowhere and having car problems. Even though it was a simple fix, I've made up my mind further to buy myself a brand spankin' new supercrew F-150 4x4 Lariat in a couple months...

MikeC78

Awesome! Glad everything turned out ok, now go get that new truck before the alternator goes out!;)

MacLeod

Corroded battery cable huh? I knew it!!

Serendipity

Glad to hear everything is okay.

treitz3

No, it was the tire silly. BTW, it takes 40,000v to make a spark in the typical spark plug.

A55HAT

Ever Tazer your nuts?