Hi so the other night driving home my radio shut off, go a little further then my gauages stop working. I keep going and come to a stop and it shuts off, so i got a boost and made it home and it dies again. i checked the fuses and they were all good. next day it started but shut off again. all of the lights in the dash came on battery check engine srs abs. i think its the alternator just not sure, i would like a second opinion before i rip it out because it looks like kind of a pain.

 

What year?

 

2001, i have an ignition interlock as well so i don't know if that could be creating these problems or not.

 

Have you checked the alternator belt? Maybe it's just the belt. Was the "battery" light on the dashboard on when the problems started?

 

One easy way to check your alternator is when you get it started, take the negative cable off the battery, if it dies you have a bad alt. but if it stays running its good...just try charging your battery first on trickle charge overnight before trying it...Im not too familiar with Ignition Interlock systems, but i googled it and its an in car breathlyzer? Never heard of it

 

Don't do that test. Disconnecting the battery with the engine running risks a power surge that can cause major damage. Use a voltmeter and do it right. You already know it's not charging because the radio, etc. quit working due to low voltage while driving.

 

I have never heard of it causing a power surge when you disconnect the battery...well..i guess im wrong in this case heh...don't listen to what i said earlier if thats the case as MK378 says...

 

i dont know about your car but every one ive owned the alt was easily accessable so i would test it with a volt meter by putting the positive lead on the positive alt post and grounding the neg lead and if the voltage is below 13v then its bad.

 

I did something wrong when I crossed connected the jumper cables to my 1995 Civic. Now when it sits for more then 4 days the battery goes dead , I dont know where to start with electrical issues......

 

Connecting jumper cables backwards can blow the battery or alternator fuse in the underhood fuse box. With the fuse blown, the alternator will not be able to charge the battery. But my first su****ion is that the battery may be bad all along, since this all started with having to jump start.

When you are going to be parked for a while, disconnect the battery. Then if you find it again dead four days later, it must have ran down itself. It couldn't have been something with the car since it was disconnected.