So with a freshly charged battery it will start up fine and if I let it run (idle) for a few minutes, shut it off and try and start it again it won't start. Then I jump it and it'll start...after running it to let it charge up I'll turn and off and it won't start again. Usually jumping it a second or third time won't work.

Does that sound like the alternator? The engine is in my totalled car waiting to go in my street rod...so I'll need a nice new polished alternator on there anyway, but I don't really want a nice one on there yet until it's in the new car. The battery isn't new, but I don't think its the battery...

What do you think?

Thanks

 

Sounds like a battery problem to me---letting an engine run or even driving the car will not charge a low or dead battery. One way to look at a battery is to check the date that it is good for and if it is anywheres close you probably need a new one OR if you rarely drive the car, the battery will not last as long either.

New battteries are cheap insurance against problem starting. JMHO

 

check the voltage when the car is running. If its above 14 volts then rule out the charging system. Take the battery to an auto parts store and have them load check it. This will quickly tell if the battery is any good or not.

 

The reason I thought it might be the alternator is I figured after one start up with the battery fully charged it should be good enough to stay charged, but I guess its just that dead that one start kills it.

It probably is the battery then. It's fairly old (I'll have to check the date) and has been used about once a week for over a year now although it has been disconnected after each time. I'll just assume its the battery for now. Thanks guys

 

Standard lead acid batteries don't like deep discharges; they never seem to fully recover. If you're only driving it once a week, your battery is being taxed. Hence the demand for Optima batteries.