Not knowing anything about the battery charger you used, this is speculation. If you had the charger on for 2 - 3 hours eiither your connection with the charger was not as good as needed or the battery is not holding a charge. It can take 6 hours or more to charge a depleted battery, but if it was charged for 2 it should have retained enough energy to power the vehicle for more than a few seconds, especially if the alternator is working properly.
As Docfixit stated, be sure to check your fuses, there (if I remember correctly) is a fuse in the underhood power distribution module for the alternator (may be listed as BAT) If this fuse is blown, the alternator may test as working but will not charge the battery.
If I had your vehicle in my shop I would (after testing battery and alternator) do the connection checks (you have done) Check fuses and test for shorts.
My next step would be to install a known good battery and repeat the test. I realize you more than likely do not have a stock of batteries in your garage, shed, closet etc.
You stated the battery is most likely over three years old, any idea for sure. When you get a chance take a look at your battery, there should be numbers on the top lable. Some thing like 75-60 or 75-5yr. The first to digets are the bci (size or application) number and the numbers after the - indicate the year rating (expected life). Most origiional equipment batteries ar 5 year (60 month) batteies.
60 month batteries are usually the lowest priced so therefor the most often used as a replacement battery.
If you can't remember or find a reciept to find out how old it is let me know who made the battery and I may be able to help you find the date on the battery. Manufaturers put a date, usually in some type of simple code, on the battery so they can rotate their stock.
That was long, lots of info, hope it is helpful
let me know,
Dan
Tuesday, August 4th, 2009 AT 11:36 AM