When I try to start I hear a series of clicks like a woodpecker. I know that means my battery is dead and I can see that when I turn it to the on position and it shows me only 8-9 volts but why is my battery not charging while the car is running? The engine can be one and show 13-14 volts and when I turn it off it immediately shows around 8-9. Is my alternator broken? It can't be the battery because I just bought a Duralast Gold from autozone. I was thinking my old sound systems wires could be touching somewhere completing the circuit but I'm pretty sure they're not. Anyway, does this sound like the alternator isnt charging the battery or could i have just bought a bad battery?

 

sounds like the charge is not getting to the battery. clean the wire ends and posts at the battery,. also clean the connections and wire ends at the junction box. not sure what yr car but it should be on the fenderwell on the passenger side. clean the wire end at the alternator also.

 

sounds more like a bad battery if it is showing 13 to 14 volts it should be fine its just a cell in the battery is dead

 

thanks for the replies, its an 01 RS and they replace my battery at autozone.. the machine said it was a bad battery and hopefully this one wont die overnight.
it was fun push starting it on a busy blvd in nyc xD

 

yeah that sucks getting a bad battery when you think its new

 

if it keeps on dying on ya, make sure your alternator isnt bad either, if its not holding a charge your battery will die after a bit

 

i would say that the alternator is not getting full charge to the battery.. have it checked if you bought the battery from auto zone u should have got a warrenty on the battery change it in and start with a new battery then check the alternator they can do it with it still on the car..