Basic principle is the engine runs the Alternator, which recharged the battery, which is constantly being drained by the engine. If the Alt isnt working, the battery will get low enough, the light will come on at the cluster, car will gradually lose power and eventually won't even try to turn over after it dies.
If you can get it to run for any amount of time with it being jump started (ie, running off another cars alternator, thusly charging your dead battery) then it is either the battery has a bad cell and won't hold a charge *replace it*, or the Alternator is toast *replace it*
If you have alt means of transportation, pull the alt and the battery both, truck them downtown to a local parts store, 90% of them have machines to test both. Its usually free and worth the time to do this
Originally Posted by AmericanSoldier
