You can run the engine for 20 minutes, 2 hours, no problems. Shut the car off, go inside, come out a half hour later to go home, and the battery light is on. Alternator doesn't want to charge the battery. So I'm stuck going to work a half hour-an hour away, and I'm driving home on battery only. Replaced the battery, replaced the alternator. Still got the same problems, restart the car, and the alternator doesn't work. Seems like its grounding out somewhere, or something I can't understand that's remotely basic. Alternator belt is running, cable to the alternators plugged in, terminals are all secure, battery's got good voltage during the first drive. Someone please help, I'd like to go to work without having to call a tow truck every night on my way home!
Rick: grounding cables fine. already tested that, thanks though!
Jim: Sorry for not explaining it better. On restarting the car, the alternator will NOT charge the battery, no matter what. I think the computers might not be sending a signal to the alternator to keep charging the battery. Anytime I let the car sit after I've been out, and start the car back up, the battery lights on immediately, even if i shut the cd player, lights, and heat off, it still pops up, and starts the drain, until its deader than a doornail and I'm stuck on the side of the road. I checked for anything draining it while I let the car sit, cd players off as well as the lights once the keys out. Trunk lights off as well, pulled my seat down to look for that.
Rick: grounding cables fine. already tested that, thanks though!
Jim: Sorry for not explaining it better. On restarting the car, the alternator will NOT charge the battery, no matter what. I think the computers might not be sending a signal to the alternator to keep charging the battery. Anytime I let the car sit after I've been out, and start the car back up, the battery lights on immediately, even if i shut the cd player, lights, and heat off, it still pops up, and starts the drain, until its deader than a doornail and I'm stuck on the side of the road. I checked for anything draining it while I let the car sit, cd players off as well as the lights once the keys out. Trunk lights off as well, pulled my seat down to look for that.