97 Cirrus Starting Problem

[LJGoose]

Hey guys. I have an issue. I just picked up a 97 Chrysler Cirrus for $500. Now my problem is something to do with the charging system. When I first go to start her up she is completely dead. No lights nothing. I jump start the car with my little baby zx2 and it starts right up. Now the cirrus runs fine for as long as 30 minutes ( thats the longest I left it running) and even went for a few quick trips up to Autozone. I came home and go to start her up again and it starts to crank really slow but then dies off. She is dead again and will only start with a jump.

Now I was thinking it was the battery. Why? The car is running fine after I jump it. If it was the alternator would the car not stall out on me? The car was sitting for a few months to. What do you guys thiink? I called Good Year and talked to the guy there and he seemed alittle to quick to jump on the alternator theory (costs more of course). I want to see what you all think.

[LJGoose]

One more thing I forgot to mention... the battery light is not on. Would that make a difference?

[02 5SPD]

The problem is that it's a chrysler. Seriously though, it sounds like it is the battery. Often the battery and alternator will take a dump at the same time- one will cause the other to go. You might get away with just a new battery, but be prepared for a bad alternator also.

[kyoreader]

The problem is that it's a chrysler. Seriously though, it sounds like it is the battery. Often the battery and alternator will take a dump at the same time- one will cause the other to go. You might get away with just a new battery, but be prepared for a bad alternator also.

my alt was going out on my cavilier, i had to jump start it because it wouldn't charge and it worked fine intill i got where i was going then wouldn't start til i jump started it again.

changed the alt and it worked fine and that battery is still in there and the alt went out 5 years ago.

[dean]

clean the terminals, and if you can make it to Autozone have them check the battery

[02 5SPD]

Better yet, take both to autozone in your ZX2 and get them checked.

A bad alternator car kill a battery by not charging at the proper voltage or amperage. A bad battery can kill an alternator by trying to draw more than the alternator can supply. If you catch the problem early you can avoid having to replace both.

[LJGoose]

clean the terminals, and if you can make it to Autozone have them check the battery

Alright guys thanks. As for it being a Chrysler I kmow. I would love to know who was the genius who decided oh lets make it so you have to take the tire and shield off to get to the battery. *shakes head*

However for $500 I could not really beat it especially being that my ZX2 is not in the best shape after being rear ended. I had planned on using the ZX2 in bad weather (winter is coming) and the cirrus for longer trips.

[LJGoose]

Man O man... well it was the battery. She starts up like a champ now... well she did. Got her working and went down to get some gas. Pull out of the gas station and the RPMs start going wacky and the car stalls out. Go to start it up and low and behold the most atrocious sound ever. The whirling sound of a broken timing belt. I should have really seen this coming and put 2 and 2 together. The car was hesitating and lots of smoke was coming out of the tail pipe. At times I would have the pedal floored and would be going at an amazing 20mph. Other times it would drive fine.

Luckily it broke down about 100 feet from the gas station and I know the repair guys in there. They helped me push it back and I am waiting to hear back from them. Seriously between getting rear ended 2 weeks ago (the zx2) and now this I am having the worst luck. I think its time to buy a bicycle LOL.

*Edit*
Not the timing belt! *Bangs head* Timing belt was just replaced not to long ago. The crankshaft pulley spun or came loose of some sort. Whoever did the timing belt did not tighten the crankshaft pulley to specs. As of now from what the guy is telling me it could be as simple as a new pulley or as complicated as needing a new engine/heads or head. I'm just waiting to hear back from then and then decide if it would be worth it to put that much money into it.