My car's been sitting due to bad weather for the last 2 weeks, I started it today (with a jump) and let it run for an hour but for some reason the battery never charged. I just jumped it again and tried to drive it but the ABS light kicked on and the car was bucking quite violently. It drove fine before its short hibernation. Any ideas of the cause?

 

Probably a bad battery and/or alternator. Do you have a DVM? If so. measure the battery voltage before you start the car (should be at least 12V) and then when it's running (should be in the 12.8-15V range). If the initial voltage is very low, the battery is probably shot, and if the running voltage is low at 2000 rpm or above, the alternator may be shot.

Low voltage can cause your symptoms.

 

I didn't check the battery voltage yet but the running voltage was 13.8v. The battery is a Braille dry cell that's only a few months old but I'll check that tomorrow.

 

Check the connections to the terminals then. Sounds like ignition break up, which could be from a weak signal to your battery.

 

Still could be a bad battery - voltage will go low at low rpms (low alt output, even with a good alt) and cause problems.

Dave

 

Well the battery won't hold a charge, its putting out only .68v

 

Looks like you found the problem...

Dave

 

Ding ding ding. Good stuff, glad you got er.