My car keeps dying! Help!, I think it's an electrical problem. Options

[twofoldjunk]

Hey guys,

Well, my car died. I believe it's an electrical problem, but would love to hear your opinions on what it could be.

So I had an issue starting my car the other day. Cold morning in Socal (40's or so), turned my key in the ignition, nothing happened with the starter. Lights came on, radio, etc. But the starter doesn't turn. I turn my key to off, try again and it starts up fine. I figure it's a fluke.

This morning, cold again (40's or so), turn my key in the ignition, same thing. Lights on, radio, etc, and this time, the starter doesn't come on at all. Try it a bunch of times, nothing.

I get my girlfriend's car and jump the battery. I figure it's a weak battery, maybe it's not getting enough charge or whatnot.

Start driving to work, and notice electrical problems. Panel is flickering, my lights dim when I hit the turn signals, my lights start to dim, and while coasting to a stop at a stoplight, my engine shuts off and electrical power dies. No headlights, no panel lights, radio dead. Even my emergency lights don't come on when I try them.

Get my gf to come out and jump my car, we drive halfway back home, car dies again. Same thing, slowing to turn, hit my signal lights and car shuts off, electrical dies.

We jump the car again and make it home. I'm going to have it towed to my mechanic for service.

Now, here's a few things that I've done recently:
1. New radio installed. I threw in a nice Sony headunit to replace my factory unit, probably sucking up more juice than before.
2. New indiglo gauges. I installed indiglo face gauges in the last month. Again, probably sucking up more juice. I've noticed some issues with this too, the gauges would flicker out occasionally, I initially chalked this up to a bad ground, but having fixed the ground issue, this was still happening. Maybe it's not getting enough voltage to run.
3. Recently moved. I have a very short commute to work now. 10 minutes and I'm there. My car isn't getting much time on long stretches of highway anymore, maybe putting 10 miles of driving a day. My battery may not be charging fully.
4. The battery is new. Date of installation of my battery is 1/11. I was initially hoping it was just a battery issue, but I just changed it out. It's possible it is a defective battery from the factory, but who knows.

My thought is that I have a bad alternator, I don't remember when it was last serviced. Either that, or the factory alternator is not powerful enough to charge the battery fully with the short commute times and higher electrical needs.

Any thoughts guys?

Thanks.

[twofoldjunk]

Hey guys,

Installed a new alternator, thought that would solve the problem.

Nope.

Started the car, drove it around the block, and it died pretty much in the same exact place.

Thinking about having it towed to my mechanic's place.

Any other thoughts on what it could be?

[Nemises]

Hey guys,

Installed a new alternator, thought that would solve the problem.

Nope.

Started the car, drove it around the block, and it died pretty much in the same exact place.

Thinking about having it towed to my mechanic's place.

Any other thoughts on what it could be?

I had a similar issue years ago. I am trying to remeber excatly what I did to fix. It may have to do with when you changed the gauges. Check the bulbs that light up when the key is on? are any of those burnt out. I think the battery light or one of those lights completes the charging circuit. if the bulb is blown no charge. All I remember is I took the gauges out and put back in when I went for a drive the car got slower and slower. I though it was the alt but I was wrong. I either changed a fuse or a bulb and fixed the issue. I think it was the bulb though.

But turn the key to the on position and make sure all those pre starting lights come on? I am pretty sure at least one of those completes the charging system in our cars.

Sound crazy but may help.