Yesterday after work my car wouldn't turn over at all, I got a jump and it drove fine so I assumed it was the battery. I replaced it last night and it started up great. This morning it struggled to start but eventually did, then at lunch time it was dead again, but this time not even a jump does anything. I can hear the starter click. Is my alternator bad or is there something else I should look for?

 

Diodes in starter bad..have it rebuilt or get new one..battery is discharging back through the car...

 

OOOOOO..I mean alternator not starter...oops.....

 

Tonight we were able to push start it, so that means it's the starter right? Could it still be the alternator?

 

1. Make an investment: 10$ multimeter is good in quantifying electrons. Otherwise, keep asking...

The system voltage at battery should be 13.8V - 14.2V while engine running. If not, charging is not functional. =Alternator bad or oxidized connectors.

In the evening, as u leave the car after driving, batt voltage should be around 12.7V or more.

In the morning, before startup, batt voltage should be 12.5 or more. If not, u have smtg draining the battery, or batt is about dead.
--->Measure with u new multimeter [Amps -scale] how much current flows between disconnected batt cable and batt pole. If over measure flow is 0.5A or more, theres a probem for u to hunt down.

Check out, clean all groundings: http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/748507/10

 

It is the alternator. Check the voltage on the battery. Need at least 10.5 to start the car. Had this problem several years ago. If the volts are fine, then maybe the starter is bad, but that would not coincide with the fact it started after repalcing the battery.

 

I had a similar problem last year. A new alternator fixed it.