Battery wont hold charge...

[Bstef]

Car wouldent start yesturday when I got in it.
First turn of key I knew- revs were drunkenly slow.

Got the hood open today and jumped it. Let it run for 10 minutes or so,
shut it down and turned the key..

Same. Starter is slow for a second then nothing.

Started fine when jumped.

I don't know how to go about figuring out if there is a short draining the battery... dosent seem to be... or if the battery is dead or if it isnt receiving a charge or.... etc.

I hadn't left my lights on or anything.
Never have had a problem with the electrical system,
it was one of the highpoints of the car, heh.

These cars are a journey arnt they. I think the car is testing me to see if I really love it...

[Brian Carlton]

Jump start the engine and run it at about 2000 rpm.

Measure the voltage at the battery. It should be about 13.5V.

Anything less than 13V indicates a problem with the alternator.

Anything above 13V indicates a battery problem (most likely) or a possible current drain by something on the vehicle.

[Bstef]

Thanks Brian-
Just got it back to my street.
15 minute drive. After turning it off I checked to see if the
drive helped.

Nope. The glowplug light won't even come on now.

I'll be playing with the volt meter later today.

Thanks Again.

ps- The drive back was weird, slow- not much power the first half of the ride.
Second half I punched it and it responded.

[turbo240]

You also could have a bad cell. How old is the battery? Also check your grounds.