Car troubles (electrical)

muninn

I have an old battery in my '98 ford contour, and it happens to lose charge with time, so it requires an occasional jump start. It was also at one point leaking acid/building up corrosion, until it weakened negative connector to the battery cable, which snapped off. I have replaced the cable connector, and cleaned all the battery terminals and connectors. Jumpstarted the car, drove 50 miles, turned the car on the car just fine next morning (no jumpstart required) and drove another 50 miles with no problem.
The following morning after a heavy rain in the area, I had to jumpstart the car o get it going, although it was strange that the car wasnt even clicking or attempting to turn over when i turned the key (which it usually does). Got the car started, drove about 50 yards, and the car lost all electrical power. Dead in the water. I jumpstart again, drive maybe a mile, and it happens again.
Any idea what the culprit could be?

bigbh

I'd put my money on your alternator being shot.

Daenris

Yeah, it's most likely either you alternator is shot and can't power the engine or charge the battery, or it could just be a connection from the alternator.

Usagi

If the battery is original to the car that is most likely the problem, those things are pretty fickle after five or six years. Drive over to an AutoZone or a Sears and have them test the battery and alternator (I think it's free, but I'd double check). Battery's going to run you less than a hundred bucks, alternator will be quite a bit more.

matt has a problem

Yeah, if it's dying like that, your alternator is the culprit. The jump start gives your battery enough juice for the car to run just off the battery, but once it's gone the car will die.

PracticalProblemSolver

My car had similar problems and it turned out to be a fusible link which needed replacing.

eternalbl

It sounds like possibly the battery and alternator. An alternator supplies electricity to run the engine and recharge your battery based on a current that it receives from the battery. If it doesn't get any power from the battery, it over runs itself and eventually kills itself.

So probably the dead battery took out your alternator.

SideAffects

As a poster above mentioned, places like autozone will check that out for free. Good luck!

The Black Hunter

You keep going on a dying leaking corroding battery with bad leads?

And now you have electrical problems?

Go to the shop, you'll likely need to replace them all

THEPAIN73

Autozone!!!

Those guys will do anything for you.

Sure I could read my own code BUT I am lazy!

Sure I could install my own light BUT I am lazy!

They will do it and like it.