is my ex giving up the ghost?

[cerberusaardvark]

yesterday i had my battery die on me. i jumped my car and the battery wasnt being charged by my alternator, and while i was driving my engine started to sound really rough and all my lights went really dim.

i got a new alternator and put it in, thinking that it would help my battery charge while my engine was on. but then after i jumped it, i noticed my battery voltage indicator was still in the red and after about five minutes, my engine started to sound really rough again.

is my battery completely dead and gone, drained so dry that it wouldnt charge up? can i fix this problem with a new battery, or are these symptoms of a larger problem? on an unrelated note, while my car was idling in the driveway, it started to smell really bad and stained the concrete under the tailpipe with some nasty black stuff.

 

[ghosttrain2]

When the system voltage drops below 9.7 volts,the engine computer will stop working. That being said, as the voltage nears that point,management of the engine will no longer be as it was.
Try slow charging the battery overnight, and have the charging system and battery tested. Also inspect the battery cables for corrosion-the battery acid will wick it's way down the cable, especially the positive side.

 

[cerberusaardvark]

sounds good. i will do that tonight. once the battery is charged, do you think the new alternator will keep that battery charged, once the computer is back online with optimum voltage? i say this because my battery had been losing charge for about two weeks and the alternator seemed to be completely useless.

 

[ghosttrain2]

Only if the alternator is truely charging the battery.