Did a search found some interesting tidbits but nothing that solved my problem....

Just today my car battery wouldnt start, i charged it and still wouldnt. Hooked a battery pack and it wouldnt. So i jumped it from my moms blazer and it wouldnt. So i bought a new battery. And put it in and first turn it turns over. Drive for a bit, stop turn off the car go in the store maybe 5 minutes come out and its dead??? WTF. Same thing cept this jumped off a battery pack. So i go home grab the jumper cables and carry them with me just in case, and sure enough as soon as I jump the car and get it running (mind u now it can only jump from a running car) it will be dead as hell as soon as i turn the ignition off. And i mean as soon as i turn it off. Figured maybe thered be juice to turn it off and turn it back on, nope dead as hell as soon as its off. So this is very weird and very new to me especially with a brand new battery.... let me know what could be wired wrong etc and so forth.

The battery cables need to be clean and tight. Make shure all grounds are good too.

did that too. cleaned all the corrosive ish off of them.should i get new clamps for the battery terminals??

Is the alternator charing the battery as you drive...that might be why it is losing power so quickly..cause if your altenator isn't working, your running your car completely off the battery... :(

- Marc

i had the same problem too..took my car to autozone and had them test my alternator, and yeah it was bad..get ur alternator tested?

Originally posted by spool
i had the same problem too..took my car to autozone and had them test my alternator, and yeah it was bad..get ur alternator tested?

most def. ur alternator. PITA to change too useless you have a hoist.

thanks guys, ill check it out tonight after work....

Ok so I decided the fastest way to check the alternator was this. I checked first made sure the belts were tightened. Now I jumped it it started fine, i loosen the positive terminal and pull it off. If the alternator was shot it woulda died right? well it kept running so now im stumped as to whether or not its an alternator problem or what? let me know guys. tia

Another way to test the alternator.

Start the car.
Do not disconnect any battery cables.
Put a volt meter across the battery.
It should be over 13V.

As for testing the current output,
it's a little trickier... but 13+ volts
gives you an idea that your alternator is
creating a greater potential difference.

You could also check to see if the 12V excitation
is making its way to the alternator.

just wanted to thank every1 for their input. i got new terminal clamps and that was it, the one side of positive i couldnt even tell had corroded through so no copper was touching causing no spark. thats why it would start but not restart on its own. as for the battery pack not jumping it, found it had no juice hahahaha im an idiot sometimes :-)