I'm a retired educator and small scale watercolor artist out here in Colorado. Fifteen years ago I purchased a 2005 Saturn Ion Coupe (with suicide doors). It has a standard transmission and has been a fun and faithful car! Lately I'm experiencing some trouble with her keeping a jump start. At AutoZone, she shows green in the battery, alternator and starter, but I'm wondering why she won't hold a jump start.

Seeking wisdom and sage advice from other Saturn owners. Thanks in advance for your valuable time.

Deborah

 

Should never rely on your car to hold a jump start.

3 basic explanations.
1) Your battery can no longer hold a full charge. Natural phenomenon w time. How old is your battery?

2):your alternator is not sufficiently charging your battery in the first place, requiring you to jump start the car every time
Is the battery light on the dash lit?

3) charge from the battery is being drained through a path it shouldn't be, draining off the charge between start attempts such that there is not enough left to start the car.

Full load test done properly should uncover 1 or 2 above and possibly 3.

The three possibilities listed above are in the most likely order.

If you get a jump start, then turn the car off right away and try to restart it, if it acts completely dead, it is most likely your battery that needs to be replaced. Your car actually runs off of the current generated by the alternator. The family is only there to start the vehicle. You didn't mention any problems with electrical stuff misbehaving inside the car so again that points towards the battery usually if it is for 5 years old

 

Thank you so much derf! I've got some investigating to do. I appreciate your reply.

 

Sounds like all of the Autozone employees where you went must all be smoking weed. It only takes a couple of minutes to load test the battery and that can be done IN THE CAR. You don't even have to remove the battery unless you're going to replace it. Maybe go to an Advance or O'Reilly instead. LOL