Charging system or battery?

[Rosetime101]

2021 ST with 37k. Would not start yesterday. Every light on the dash came on when I tried. Used a jump box and it started perfect but as soon as the cables came off it died. Charged the battery for an hour and it ran for two minutes before it died again. Should the battery power it longer?

Connections to the battery are clean and tight. Can’t even see the Alt? Not sure if it is a DIY as I have done multiple on older cars. Thx in advance.

 

[2020FordRaptor]

Most likely a bad alternator.

 

[Rosetime101]

That was my first guess. Been a long time since I had an alternator go out. No idea what one cost to have replaced now.

 

[Dale5403]

Have you had your battery tested? Pretty good chance it has gone bad.

 

[Cdubya]

Not too many have had bad alternators whereas batteries are common failures. Even with a good alternator, I don't think the car will run if the battery is kaput.

 

[2020FordRaptor]

That was my first guess. Been a long time since I had an alternator go out. No idea what one cost to have replaced now.

Have you had your battery tested? Pretty good chance it has gone bad.

Not too many have had bad alternators whereas batteries are common failures. Even with a good alternator, I don't think the car will run if the battery is kaput.

If the car starts, it no longer needs the battery. If it dies after cranking and starting its most likely a bad alternator.

 

[Dale5403]

If the car starts, it no longer needs the battery. If it dies after cranking and starting its most likely a bad alternator.

Not correct. I had my battery go bad on a 2001 Ford ranger. I jump started and drove to the auto supply store. When I got to their parking lot it died. The vehicle does need the battery to keep running. I have no idea where you get this from.

 

[2020FordRaptor]

Not correct. I had my battery go bad on a 2001 Ford ranger. I jump started and drove to the auto supply store. When I got to their parking lot it died. The vehicle does need the battery to keep running. I have no idea where you get this from.

Interesting. On all my vehicles once I jumped a bad battery I was able to turn on and drive to the auto store without a problem.

 

[23 Explorer ST]

If the battery is that bad, no alternator will keep it running for very long.
Have your battery load tested.


2023 Explorer ST, Rapid Red

 

[cheetoduster]

It depends, maybe on how new the vehicle is?

I recently took my '95 Chevy K1500 out of storage. It had been sitting for over a year. Gave it a jump, cranked right up. I drove it around for 20-30 minutes. Stopped at a self car wash to hose off the dirt from sitting in a parking garage for a year and mistakenly turned the truck off. Dead as a door nail, would not start, would not crank. I had to get a jump from the shop across the street.

Several years ago I had an '09 Pontiac G8 GT, I was sitting in it while it's running waiting for some friends to get in, suddenly the thing went bonkers. The units on the dash turned metric, the coolant temp needle slowly went up until it pegged at max, radio kept going in and out. Probably a bunch of shit I can't remember. All that happened because two of the cells in the battery were toast. A new battery fixed it.

 

[Eljaber]

Hang around the forums/FB groups and you'll notice the battery on these vehicles are good for 4-5 years before they die and leave you stranded or with electrical glitches. I have had bad batteries cause symptoms of a bad alternator, or no jump/charge in the world gets them to come back to life.

 

[Cdubya]

Interesting. On all my vehicles once I jumped a bad battery I was able to turn on and drive to the auto store without a problem.

You sure that wasn't on an older car?

 

[2020FordRaptor]

You sure that wasn't on an older car?

Most yes, but the most recent one was my Raptor.