SO I THOUGHT it was the alternator but it tested 14.4 volts today. my problem is that i turn on my headlights or brake lights and the car INSTANTLY dies. i tried looking at the fsm but i got lost and i dont event know where to start.. someone please help!also after it dies i need to jump it becuase everything is dead.no dash lights, nothing.

 

Will the car operate normally when its being jumped by another vehicle?

 

yes, if its jumped it will run fine untill a major electrical source is used.after using brakes or somthin it dies and i lose everything again.

 

Even while its being jumped? Or will the vehicle operate normally WITH electrical loads while jumped?

 

do your lights and crap work fine when the car is not running? and what would it do if you were to rev it at 3k and turn the lights on?

 

well i had the headlights still up when it died and as soon as i hooked up the jumpers they went right down,everything lit up inside and car fired, with cables still hooked up of course. this is the only thing i did since i was afraid of a short and fire since it did this 2 days ago. its wierd, the morning this happened the car fired up fine.

 

no, i dont have nothing. and i was about 3,000rps when i turned headlight on. maybe ill try again tommorow. what would the benifit be if they worked(headlights) above 3,000

 

its turning your alternator faster.
did you mean that untill you hooked up jumper cables your lights did not go down?

 

^ right.

 

ok so your battery is dead? buy a new battery because its not holding a charge and your alternator is doing all the work

 

i find this REALY hard to believe on how fast it died.this is possible?i never had a problem with the battery though? it always started and then i go to turn on my headlights and it died?? this is possible?

 

It's very possible you need a new battery. Your battery is failing a battery load test, IE when you put a load on your charging system with your head or tail lights. A lot of parts places will test your battery for free so just call around to a few and get it tested out to be sure before you replace it. But it really sounds like a dead battery.

 

if your lights can not get enough power to go down on their own without jumpercables to another car than your battery is completely dead, and if it isnt charging then you need a new one

 

wow, i feal like a heal. im gonna throw in my battery form my other car and see what an idiot i am. thanks guys!

 

who tested the alt??? Why are you convinced the power is good from it???

And have you checked the connections on it???

This is the stock alt for the year right???

 

we checked it my girlfriends father store which is napa. we checked about 7 or 8 times which showed 14.3 to 14.4 volts everytime except once. im thinkin the ground for his machine was loose so we played with that and i think its ok. yes its for that year. also i didnt suspect it was a dead battery becuase we had a light tester and tested the main hot wire to the alt. and it lit up. i think this weekend ill try and put a friends battery in it. maybe i was just paranoid about all the stories you here about fires.

 

well an inductive amp meter on the main line to the alt would tell you for sure.

I would also be checking resistance from the alt body to the engine, the battery neg, and the shock tower ground.