> Do I need a new alternator or battery, Please help?

Do I need a new alternator or battery, Please help?

Posted at: 2015-01-07 
Take it to autozone. They can test your battery and alternator for free.

It does sound like your alternator though.

I would at least lift the hood and check if the alternator belt is tight.

Take it to a mechanic and they will test your alternator and battery.

To me, that sounds like a problem with the alternator given how young the battery is.

It does sound like the alternator. If you do get a new one, try and charge up the battery with a battery charger before you start the car. Otherwise, the new alternator could be damaged trying to charge up a dead battery. Or if you can't do that, then when you start your car after putting in the new alternator, don't rev the engine at all. Just let it idle for about 20 - 30 minutes to slowly charge the battery. Revving the engine with a low battery can over stress the alternator.

so I was driving and battery lights come on and dash board gets dim and radio stops, front lights are going dim and its at night. A friend jumpstarts my car and im driving home and it happens again. the battery was put in April 2011 and the car is a 2000 Daewoo lanos