Battery or Alternator?

[Dave_x]

Add me to the list of cold weather woes. I'm just not sure if it is the fault of the battery or if it could be the alternator.

When I turn the key, the lights are fine, radio, etc. When I try to start the car, it clicks and tries to turn over, but fails. The battery light has never come on. The battery reads 12.4v cold. In warmer temps the car has been fine.

I'm guessing it is the battery. I bought the car used, so I'm not sure if it is the original or not. There are six fill screws on the top. Model number looked like 5002ML or something like that.

Not sure if I'm missing something, but I wanted to run it by you guys before I shelled out cash for a new battery.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[Cybspur]

I'm pretty sure its the battery. It happened to me twice, last winter, and once last month, and today, somethings wrong with my car and I can't figure it out. Same symptoms as you. Lights come on. Windows work. Air...etc. I even tested the battery with a voltmeter and it read somewhere around 14v.
You could always have them test the battery before getting a new one, so it doesn't hurt. Well, good luck.

 

[flash75]

Se what the battery voltage is when you attempt to start the engine. If it's less than around 10 volts, the battery is bad or needs charging.

Clifton

 

[Dave_x]

I went ahead and purchased a new battery. I put it in today and removed the old one, a Panasonic. So I'm guessing it was the original. The thing was so dead it took a few tries at jump-starting it so I could even get the car into the garage. 6-7 years and 85k miles wasn't bad for that little thing though.

The new one started like it was summertime.