So the lights and stuff have been acting erratic the past couple days after I had nearly killed the battery trying to start my flooded car. When I pressed the brakes the headlights would flicker but the past day it seemed to be charged enough to not do that anymore. Well, I drove somewhere today and an hour later the car wouldn't start. I turn the key to the acc position and it would act normal (but only go to about 8.5v) but as soon as I tried to crank it all the lights would turn off (clock included). Soooo I got a jump and I barely started it and drove it to work... figured I could charge it but the battery isn't even taking a charge. Sooo the battery is toast right? I don't want to run down to autozone and get a new battery when actually my alternator is bad or I have a short. But if the battery isn't taking a charge, it must be dead... right?

 

Pretty much.

Did the volt meter register a good voltage (13 or more) whilst driving the car?

How old is the battery?

Did you attempt to charge using a charger clamped directly to the battery?

You can also have AutoZone/PepBoys/Advance/Whoever test the alternator when you bring the car there.

 

I had a similar issue, it turned out to be a loose battery cable and hold-down. The hold down had wormed its way loose during a rally and that let the battery wiggle enough to loosen the ground connector. Check those.

 

Oooh good idea. After I got it jumped it shot up to like 15v and while I was driving it was between 13 and 14 but when I hit the brakes it would dip to 12 for a tick. Now that I shut it off it won't even crank and there's no clicking either. When I turn it to the acc position it only reads 8v now. I also traced the ground down to below the oil cooler to which was just recently repaired. I'd suspect it could be the ground except for the fact that the mechanic who worked on the car was a guru and nothing else seems loose and not likely to be.

 

And yes, the charger was clamped to the battery. Seems like it's dead.

 

id replace the battery cables if I were you... I did it today took about 15-30 minutes depending on how well you can find the proper tools: here a webpage with a full write up - (my battery wires corroded straight through at one point)

http://www.jimrothe.com/mazda/battery_cables.html

 

Once a car battery has been drained completely even just one time, it's dead. It may take a little while, but it's dead.

Now you have to fix whatever killed it before replacing the battery. In your case the engine flooded and you drained the battery cranking it over.

That' s why you have to keep the charge up on them when storing in the winter.