Alternator light on, not charging new battery replace battery?

1999 CHRYSLER CONCORDE
155,000 MILES • 1.7L • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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BILL HASTINGS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Replaced battery and the car immediately started after parked following a deer/car collision on drivers side last fall. First, I cut off top cable and attempted to install side mount battery, It did not fit so I installed correct ( new) battery with new cable end. I did not reinstall auxiliary line attached to original positive cable. Is this the line from alternator to recharge the battery? The hew battery quickly died after a couple short trips, The drivers door is not latching after impact with deer!
Sep 25, 2025 at 11:20 AM
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CARADIODOC
  • AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR CONTRIBUTOR
  • 34,308 POSTS
They do show the alternator's output cable as a separate red, 6 gauge, bolt-on cable. The easiest way to tell is to measure the voltage on the large bolted-on cable on the back of the alternator. That will have full battery voltage all the time. If you find 0.0 volts there, check it again with that cable attached.
Sep 25, 2025 at 4:33 PM
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