This is my first car, so im not sure what to do or what could be the issue, but the battery on my 96 keeps dying, the person i had bought it from told me that the jeep had been sitting for awhile, the battery that came with it was did and the only way to drive it home was to get a boost, so i i bought a new battery at autozone, put it in, and it started up on its own, the other day i wanted to clean the battery terminals so i was taking off them off cleaned the, then when i was putting them back on, i forgot and put the negative wire on first and noticed a spark when i touched it with the wrench, i read in the haynes manual this could short your battery or system or something, anyway after that the battery lost power then i took the battery to autozone had them recharge it and brought it back it started, i had it running for a little while, but then turned it off, then i tried starting it again and the car would not start, just make a click clack noise when i turn the key, then after that a friend gave me a boost and the car started, i left it running a little bit to try and charge the battery, i shut it off again and tried to start and the battery wouldnt start, i checked it today and the battery is dead, i checked the tester is its 0.04 volts, it's muertoo sooo im stumped as to what to do

it's my first car just put plates on it today and haven't even driven it yet

 

Sounds like the alternator is gone. When the alternator goes, the engine takes energy from the battery, causing it to die even, if it's a new batt. Best thing to do is take it to autozone or other parts store and have them test it.

 

Thank's!!, that what i was hearing from people, im deff gonna do that! thanks again

 

They can put a load test on the system and hopefully isolate the problem.

Don't go spending money on parts until you know what is faulty.

It might also be a bad cable.

 

who can do a load test?

 

replace the battery terminals as well

 

Aren't the battery terminals the connectors sticking out of the battery?, or you mean the cables?

 

the terminals connect to the + - posts of the battery. When those get corroded they will cause loss of charging.

Just cut back a little to ensure you still will have enough slack in the cables. Strip some of the wire free and connect to new terminals.

Trance your negative cable back to the grounds and clean them up with a wire brush, that will help as well.

 

thanks im gonna try that out, also need to get aalernator/battery tester from harbor freight..if it is the alternator does anyone have experience with autozone alternators?, they say there premium remanufactured, are they good?

 

Go to a NAPA.

 

X2 on the NAPA.

Don't buy anything you want to be dependable at Autozone.

Spray paint, wax, and car wash solution is OK from them.

 

Autozone probably can. Just don't buy from them unless you are putting your Jeep in an auction to sell it right away. See above post.

NAPA for sure can.

O'Reilly's should also be able to. Their better quality/higher priced parts are OK.

 

get the jeep started then put your voltmeter on the battery while it is running. You should be at a little over 14v with the car running. If your not then your alt is totally dead. IF it reads ok on the voltmeter bring it somewhere to load test it to make sure its putting out enough amperage.

If you live in CT I have a load tester and could test it for you if you want to drive over here.