Replaced the battery and alternator. Both of them twice. What else could it be?

LADYMEL921

MEMBER
2004 KIA OPTIMA
80,000 MILES

My car died while I was driving. I replaced the alternator and the battery, the car ran for like a day and every time I started it the battery light came on until I drove it for a little bit then went off. After the first day the car died again. Apparently they gave me the wrong alternator so I replaced it again and kept the battery that was just put in, I recharged the battery to 100% and the same exact thing happened the light came on every time it was started but this time the car only lasted about a half day. I had the battery tested, it was junk, so I replaced the new battery with a new new battery and the car started fine, no battery light, I thought hey great im all set. The car lasted for two and a half days this time, the battery light is now on every time I start it and the cycle is starting again. What could it be?

1 Reply

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,747 POSTS

You are not getting power to the battery from the alternator. The battery is slowly dieing. Check to make sure the batter cables are in good condition and the ground to the engine is clean and tight. Next, there is a fuseable link between the alt and battery. If it is bad, it won't charge the battery. Make sure they gave you the correct alt this time.