on side of road, help fast
 

I was on my way to work when I noticed my dashlights coming on. I pulled over (on a hill) and turned off car. Wouldn't restart. Checked battery cables, tight. Jump started car and it was running, but at like 2500 rpms idle. Tried to drive home but died. Got a jump and restarted, but when I went to pull away, it sputtered and died. Not sure, sounds like fuel mix maybe. Checked AFM, was on tight. Any suggestions. I need help fast as my car is on a side street in Newark, New Jersey and won't last too long.

Thanks

Scruff

I'm thinking a bad alternator.

I concur, its likely that your alternator failed and used the battery to drive on till it was dead. If you dont have far to go, you could borrow a fully charged battery and limp it home to repair the alternator. wont get real far but maybe far enough.

were you going uphill or downhill when this happend?

Thanks
 

Yeah, I'm kinda leaning to bad alternator. The battery is new, so its not that. I don't have a spare battery, but if I charge it long enough, will I be able to get about 3 miles to home? The first indication of something was wrong was my my radio stopped. Then I noticed dash lights come on. But after I jumped it, shouldn't I have been able to get home?

Scruff

no becuase the instant you start your vehicle you are drawing on that battery reserve. what you could do is to hook up the jumper cables and let the donor car charge your battery for a little while, then start it and drive immediately to your destination, hoping you have enough juice to get there...save all electrical power you can by keeping the radio, a/c, lights, etc off, conserve power.

"with all due respect sir, I think this will be our finest hour..." - Gene Crantz, Apollo 13

when i read this, the alt is exactly what i was thinkin. when you start your car, the starter motor has to use alot of power to turn over the motor. i believe a fresh, fully charged battery will get you home.