Car - 1996 Camaro RS V6 Automatic No known Mods

I purchased the car for my daughter 1 and half years ago and immediately began getting Service Engine Light and a Dead Battery if the car sat for 2 days. The SEL turned out to be crankshaft position sensor that has been replaced and after having someone track the short, they disconnected the stereo and said that it had a short in it and was killing the battery. We have yet to install a new stereo. The air conditioner has been charged several times and will not hold a charge for more than a month.

Recently, the car started making noises at times while driving and after inspecting, it was determined to be coming from the AC compressor. Some rattling coming from the throw out bearing or such on the front of the compressor yet this would happen even when the AC was turned off. There have been no battery issues for at least 6 months. Tonight however, she is driving home and when she gets in the drive, she has to back up to realign for the garage. When she put the car in reverse, it shut down completely. No lights, no power, no nothing. I checked connections, all fine. I tried to jump from my truck and got a slow turn, but no start.
I really need to work out these bugs and issues before she leaves for college next year. Who knows, I may be selling this within the year to put her in something more reliable.

Thanks for your help in advance.
Eric

 

Check battery voltage, check fuel pressure, check for spark, check for loose wires.

 

I'll have to do this over the next week since I am leaving town. Is it normal to just die and nothing at all work? No lights or anything. Even with the jump, you get very weak response. A new battery cranks it. I have never seen a battery slowly drain without lights dimming and one with a dead cell usually runs until you turn it off and then it doesn't restart. What would cause it to shut itself down completely? I am not great at working on vehicles, but also don't have the budget to keep putting it in the shop without an idea of what they should be looking for.

Thanks
Eric

 

this may or may not be an alternator problem ( over or undercharging ) the only way to know for sure is to put a voltage meter on the battery posts while idling. 14 is good. less than 14 and it's undercharging. more than 16 it's over charging. i would'nt trust an auto parts store to test it. their equipment makes mistakes quite often. good luck. sick