You need a new battery. The alternator needs the battery to create the magnetic field it uses to generate electricity. With a wheezy battery your voltage will be low, so you'll get low-reading gauges and a poor- to non-running engine. A really crapped-out battery can also act as a "lowest common denominator", dragging the voltage down even when jumpered to another running vehicle.
> A battery that I've had a bad history with wen't dead on me---no surpise there. The alternator is good, I'm pretty sure---it's new, and last time this battery wen't dead, I tested it, and it checked out. I think the battery is a dud. (probably from sitting around for a couple of months) ... > Then, of course, it won't start, since my battery is dead, but it won't take a jump either---I tried for a long time a number of different times, and the starter motor was turning over quite quickly. I waited 30 minutes (for a tow truck) and tried again... no luck. |
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