So I went on vacation for a week, the Lancer sat in the garage.. Came home, went to start it up, nothing, so I figured it was a dead battery. Jumped it in the morning, started right up, let it idle for a while, drove about 60 miles on and off the highway, with a few stops, no problems....get off the highway, stop at the bottom of the ramp, and the car dies (it's an automatic, btw). So I push it across the road, and try to jump it again. This time, the engine's turning over but not catching, and the car jumping it was a V8, so it had plenty of juice to spare. I went and had the battery, found it to be defective, got it exchanged, installed it, went to start the car, and.... same as before. Turns over, but doesn't catch. Anyone have any suggestions as to what's going on here? Alternator? Battery, even though it's new? Starter? It's got plenty of gas, and I replaced the plugs about a month or so ago. Thanks for the input.

 

Before the battery was completely dead, the alternator was trying to pick up the slack and it was overworked. Have AutoZone test you alt.

Good luck!

 

watch if you have anything hooked up to the battery? i know it sounds obvious but if theres crap running on it (amp, deck, lights, neons, turbo timer, etc) it could be a bad circuit there as well...just a suggestion.