Alternator or battery? Last night, my car would not start. The dash lights came on, but apparently there...?

Question

was not enough power to start the engine. I got a jump, & was finally able to start it to drive home from work. While driving home, I noticed that the little yellow, circular “ABS” (?) indicator light (on the lower right dash) came on & stayed on. Earlier yesterday, while driving to work, I’d also noticed that the ‘lights on’ indicator light started flashing (the little yellow round light, on the left side of the dash, that always lights up when the car is shifted into 'drive', & the head lights automatically come on). Anyway, when I got home (2 am), & shut it off, I tried to start it again. Unsurprisingly, it would not start.

My car is a ’98 Pontiac Sunfire (automatic). The current battery is about 2 yrs old. Do I need a new battery? Or alternator? Both? Was a fuse blown (& somehow drained the battery)? Any advice or tips would be appreciated.

I need to find a least expensive (short term?) way to fix it, so I can finish my clinicals & get a paying job. Thanks.

Answer 1

try this, get the car started and disconnect the negative side of the battery, if the engine stalls after a few seconds chances are your alternator is not charging properly. If it stays running, then the alternator is charging and supplying sufficient power to keep the vehicle running. Then shut it off and try to restart the car after putting the negative cable back on, if it won't start, you have a bad cell in the battery and it will not accept a charge.

Answer 2

ABS light means your ABS has a problem and won't function. Which shouldn't have anything to do with your dead battery. Best I can say is have the battery tested at say an autozone or Sears. If the battery is good then you have to have the alternator and starter tested. If those are good then you'll have to have it tested for a parasitic draw. Then from there I dunno lol.  

Answer 3

Hey, most likely it's the battery. Although you didn't mention if it sounded different when you tried to start your car. If the battery is dead it should have enough energy to power your electrical devices inside (lights, radio, etc..) but will not have enough power to start your vehicle. The starter motor requires a lot of energy to start your vehicle. If your battery is dead it should sound 'slow' when it turns over.Have it tested, it's not the alternator due to the fact that your car didn't die when you were driving it. Don't waste your time looking at the alternator. The alternator has NOTHING to do with the starting process, Likewise the BATTERY has no function when the car is running other than to be charged by the alternator. Check & Change the battery, it wouldn't hurt to pick up a manual for your vehicle while at the parts store. Good Luck

Answer 4

the abs is anti-lock brake system, something is wrong with the abs system, probably a connection in 1 of the wheel sensors.but for not starting, it could be either the battery not taking charge or the alternator is not charging the battery, check the belt first. once you get it going again, take it to auto zone or advance and have the alternator and battery checked before you start shelling out money for stuff you might not need.the abs has nothing to do with the starting.

Answer 5

Don't take the negative terminal off the vehicle when the car is running. You put the alternator at maximum output and can literally fry the alternator in seconds. That's an old school (shade tree) trick that worked on generators for alternators. If the vehicle doesn't start its a battery or starter problem, basically. If the car won't stay going, or kills itself its an alternator. My guess is you don't have a way to just start it everyday, so either get it jumped and take it to a napa, kragen, autozone.... any one of those places and ask them to test your battery and while your there your starter and alternator if they got the tester. 2 years the battery should still be good, but batteries can randomly die, it happens. Hopefully that helps. I'd be curious to know what you find.

ABS is your Anti-Lock Braking System. If you pound the brakes all the wheels would lock up right? ABS pulses the brakes so they don't lock up and you can stop faster and with more control.