stickmaker | Unexpected Afternoon

I wound up spending an extra hour and a half and $200 this afternoon. The battery in my car died fast and hard. Car started fine at Wal-Mart. When I left the doctor's office after my allergy shot it went "Clunk! Clickclickclickclickclicicklic."

The guy who answered my call tried jumping it but his portable pack was dead and he had to get another. Even then, the Mustang started hard wouldn't run long enough to make it to Advance Auto Parts. Fortunately, he was in a tow truck.

Even after they jumped it and got it running at the shop their diagnostic showed the alternator not putting out enough voltage. The shop guy thought the car might need a new alternator plus a battery. I told him to install a new battery and check the car again. Car started immediately and now seems fine, alternator voltage back where it's supposed to be. This is its third battery for this car, a 2005 Mustang.

The old battery had apparently developed an internal short which was even draining the alternator. So it was far worse than not holding a charge.

I reset my radio and headed to Krogers to finish my shopping. :-)