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I have a 2004 Kia Spectra 1.8, I have replaced the spark plugs, the alternator, and my battery is only about two months old. The car will start after a jump but it has to sit for about 10 minutes before the jump works.

I replaced the alternator and the car started off of a jump and even started back up on its own. I wanted to drive to the auto parts store but the car started to die after only 10 minutes of driving. The lights started dimming, the radio kept cutting in and out and then windshield wipers started moving slowly. Then the car just shut off completely.

I'm not sure what else to check before I take it to the shop and get charged an arm and a leg. Any help is useful. I'm new to the car thing so clear directions are the best for me.

RegDwight
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chanell
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5 Answers5

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If the battery dies whilst driving, but you can jump it off another car, you want to look at the alternator first (possibly followed by the battery, the wiring and any large loads, because either your battery is not charging or something is draining it faster than the alternator can charge it)

An alternator should give somewhere over 13 volts (often 14.5) to charge the battery; and a fully charged battery should also give you over 12 volts.

Rory Alsop
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Your Alternator is not charging the battery. This can be verified by checking the voltage across the battery with the vehicle running less than 12.6 volts means you are discharging the battery. Since you've already replaced the alternator (it's possible it's bad) lets start somewhere else. There should be a 120 amp fuse between the alternator and the battery, if this is blown you can't charge the battery. An easy check for this if you can't find the fuse right away is with the car off you should have battery voltage at the big terminal on the back of the alternator, if not the fuse is blown or the wire is not connected properly.

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2002 intrepid would just click click click. jump it, it would fire right up. autozone alt/battery are good. took off all negative cables and cleaned them tighten them all backdown and the car fired right up..

user9997
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In addition to the supplied answers it could also be a faulty crank position sensor. If the engine is cranking but not firing then check this. It will cause a car to run for sometime then slowly die as described.

Mike Saull
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I would look at an electronic reason as to why the car is stopping. The car should start IMMEDIATELY when it is jumped and it should stay running. If it doesn't run after a jump, and the battery isn't bad, the something in your charging system isn't functioning properly.

Try this:

  1. Start the vehicle and leave it running.
  2. Take a multimeter and test across the poles on your battery.
  3. If you are getting between 13.5 and 14.5 volts at that point, I would start turning on accessories and then testing again. If the voltage drops significantly and doesn't level off or rise, then you have issues with the alternator.
  4. If the vehicle dies, then you have some type of issue with your charging system beyond the battery/alternator.

Frankly, you may have to tow the car to a shop which specializes in foreign auto electrical systems and have them troubleshoot the issue for you. They probably won't charge that much and you can decide if it is something that you wish to do or something that you wish them to do for you.

Hennes
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Mistah Mix
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