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Jim Grant's Tech Tips
85
Chrysler Lebaron, Charging Problems
Q: I have an '85 Chrysler
Lebaron Turbo. I've put in a new battery and a new alternator and I'm
STILL having a problem keeping the car running. I took it on a three mile
trip and I had to charge it 6 times (I'm not kidding). Before I go to
a shop (I'm a female and tend to be taken advantage of because I'm absolutely
stupid when it comes to cars) can you give me an idea of what else could
be wrong. I'm very appreciative of your information so far and I will
check out those shops, but, I feel like I probably need to have more of
a clue as to what's going wrong. Thanking you in advance!... Denise
A: Give
yourself more credit, your asking a smart question! A vehicle's charging
system can be simplified into two categories: a storage and operating
system. The battery is a storage device for electrical energy. The electricity
stored in the battery is used primarily for starting the engine. Once
the engine is running, the alternator takes over providing the electrical
energy to operate the engine and accessories, while replenishing the electrical
energy in the battery that was used to start the engine. If you have to
repeatedly charge the battery to keep your car running, then the charging
system is probably not operating correctly. A qualified technician should
have no problem in diagnosing the cause for your charging system problems.
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