car needs jump start, but battery tested OK?

[jason]

lost a key between my seats but couldn’t move my electric seats so I pushed the push start button without my foot on the break…was able to move the seat and find my key. (I think I pushed the push start again after moving the seat to turn it off but don’t recall). This took 30 minutes max. Than my car wouldn’t start. Don’t think if car was on, 30 minutes would drain the battery?

Had to get a jump start and car worked fine everyday for 4 days. I let engine run 30 minutes after jump start in idle parking lot.

Than yesterday it didn’t turn on and I needed another jump start. My battery takes 10 minutes to charge up, but the dash did read “low battery” after 2 minutes of charging. After the jump start I took it to autozone and they said battery tested good. He tested alternator while car was on and said that’s fine.

Today, again, the car doesn’t start. Lights, radio, etc. turn on and work fine.

Any idea what the issue is?

Topic

[George Gallen]

clean and tighten your battery posts first. If you have a volt meter check the voltage while the car is off and while it’s running.
If it’s the same, then check the voltage while it’s running at the alternator – if it’s still the same – it may be the alternator (or the serpantine belt isn’t turning the alternator enough – check that before replacing the alternator). If the alternator is higher but at the battery it’s not – you have a problem with the wire that goes from the alternator to the battery. Oh and if everything seems ok, you may have a short circuit somewhere.

[George Gallen]

I must have missed that part about the autozone trip.

Try putting foot on the brake, and run the gears a couple time – P R N D D and back up. (neutral safety issue)
Also try turning the key back and forth a couple times. (ignition switch issue)

It could also be the starter going bad (including the solenoid) – I recently replaced a starter where
the solenoid post had sheared off.

[ryan stuvick]

you may have a draw on the system. here is a how to
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/a5859/how-to-stop-car-battery-drains/

[Author]

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