Battery Or Alternator?

[4NTM4N]

hey all,

not too long ago my battery was on its way out..so i got a new one and then that one has also shat itself but im wondering if its not actually the battery...would it be my alternator?? for example i can turn my car accesories on and listen to music for ages but then when i go to start it my car just goes dead and then nothin works again unless i move the terminals around disconnect an re-connect them...i got a jump start an went for a drive for a good 15 min an tried to start after and did the same thing... any ideas?

[lachlanw]

clean the terminals and do them up properly might be a good start

[tridentt150v]

get someone to check your battery voltage while you try to start the car, if it is +12 volts and dips below 10 volts its pretty much stuffed.

[Hanaldo]

If your battery is too flat to start the car, you will need far more than a 15 minute drive to charge it

[blind_elk]

The regulator (in the alternator) could be shagged. If it causes the battery to overcharge, the battery will eventually be unable to accept and hold any charge.

[alexx]

im having the same problem, mine drains over night.

ive completly checked it over to find something that could drain it but came up empty handed.

take it for a big drive, if your radio or lights cut out while driving then best bet is that your alternators on its way out