The five year rule is good, but personally if it was older than about 3 years I would just replace. If money is an issue then you can push your luck, but eventually you will get stranded with a dead battery.
Driving your car around for about an hour should fully charge it.
Places like Walmart Auto center, or Autozone parts store, will test your battery and charging system for free.
You drained your battery jumping hers. Then you tried to recharge you battery by charging with your alternator. But you're trying to defy the laws of physics. You can recharge a battery using a dead battery. This is why you shouldn't jump other batteries. It's an obsolete practice. Read these two articles
http://ricksfreeautorepairadvice.com/bes...
http://ricksfreeautorepairadvice.com/jum...
Take the 12 volt battery to any store other than Auto Zone where new ones are sold. Ask for a free 15 second battery *load test to see what the reserve amperage capacity is. Amperage spins starter motors not voltage.
I'll second the 5 year rule. Maybe the battery terminals need some cleaning.
if the battery is older then 5 years ,then it's probably done for. jump starting your girlfriends car just pushed it over the edge
The part of the story where the GF changed her battery.....do that too.
My car died while attempting to jump start my gfs "hers is fine now after getting it changed" but my lights etc come on but it won't turn over, a guy gave me a quick jump start it worked but after turning mine off for less than five minutes it was the same situation. Question is should I jump it and go get it charged since its partly functional or is it done for
