on side of road, help fast

[scruffboy]

Yeah, I'm kinda leaning to bad alternator. The battery is new, so its not that. I don't have a spare battery, but if I charge it long enough, will I be able to get about 3 miles to home? The first indication of something was wrong was my my radio stopped. Then I noticed dash lights come on. But after I jumped it, shouldn't I have been able to get home?

Scruff

[theWeezL]

Originally Posted by scruffboy

But after I jumped it, shouldn't I have been able to get home?

Scruff

no becuase the instant you start your vehicle you are drawing on that battery reserve. what you could do is to hook up the jumper cables and let the donor car charge your battery for a little while, then start it and drive immediately to your destination, hoping you have enough juice to get there...save all electrical power you can by keeping the radio, a/c, lights, etc off, conserve power.

"with all due respect sir, I think this will be our finest hour..." - Gene Crantz, Apollo 13

[j3pz]

when i read this, the alt is exactly what i was thinkin. when you start your car, the starter motor has to use alot of power to turn over the motor. i believe a fresh, fully charged battery will get you home.