Went to rescue niece last night, she has a 2003 ford taurus, thought it was a dead battery but when charger connected lights came on immediately...and it did start...guy thought it might be alternator

Asked by Judy Jan 16, 2015 at 09:45 AM about the 2003 Ford Taurus

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

How do you know when it's an alternator issue and not a battery issue when car won't start

17,575

crumbob answered 9 years ago

take it to autozone and take the alternator off in the parking lot and take it in and tell them to bench test it before you take it off go in and ask them to load test your battery because they will need to charge it to there load spec

Mark helpful

Your Answer:

Went to rescue niece last night, she has a 2003 ford taurus, thought it was a dead battery but when charger connected lights came on immediately...and it did start...guy thought it might be alternator 1 Answer

How do you know when it's an alternator issue and not a battery issue when car won't start

2003 Ford Taurus

-

Maintenance & Repair
I have had to change my starter on my 98 Taurus SE three times in last 1 1/2 years. I changed the battery, and the alternator a yr, and a half ago, and seven months later the starter went out again, and this week it did again. Any suggestions? 1 Answer

About 1 1/2 yrs ago I started having problems with my battery or so I thought. The car would not make a sound, no click, anything! I brought it to an Auto Store who tested it, and it said that I n...

1998 Ford Taurus SE

-

Maintenance & Repair
Have a 99 Ford Taurus wagon se 3.0 dohc. Wont start. Car was sitting for a year. Replaced the battery, and starter. Got a very slow crank but no where near where I thought it would do. Suggestions? 3 Answers

Cranking is very slow almost like a old dog barking. I was thinking it was seized but still can turn main pulley with a wrench, but it is alittle hard to do. Trouble shooted all my wiring and all ...

1999 Ford Taurus SE

-

Maintenance & Repair
I have a 2004 Ford Taurus (automatic transmission) which has sat idle for the last couple of years with some occaisional startings, but not driven. Battery was dead and we recharged and moved the car around to start getting it road worthy. Found that the gear/transmission handle was extremely hard to shift from park to drive and reverse. Took great effort to shift into any of the selections, but it did function over the weekend. Went to start the car up yesterday and car won't turn over. Battery is powering all systems and lights (no dimming of lights/radio interior systems all function), but car won't attempt to start, not even a click from the starter which worked perfectly over the weekend. Could the neutral safety switch have any hand in preventing car from starting. 3 Answers

Car started fine over the weekend, but shifting from park to reverse/Drive/Low were all very stiff.

2004 Ford Taurus

-

Maintenance & Repair
2002 Ford Taurus won't star but lights come on 1 Answer

My friend has a Ford Taurus and it wouldn't crank like it has been. I tried jumping it off, first thought is dead battery. But it does absolutely nothing. Is this a starter or alternator issue??

2002 Ford Taurus LX

-

Maintenance & Repair

Own this car?

Share your experience with others.

2003 Ford Taurus

Write a car review

Review another car

Used Ford Explorer

2,311 Great Deals out of 55,561 listings starting at $1,995

Used Ford F-150

6,358 Great Deals out of 162,782 listings starting at $993

Used Chevrolet Impala

260 Great Deals out of 3,823 listings starting at $1,551

Used Ford Mustang

976 Great Deals out of 19,547 listings starting at $2,995

Used Toyota Camry

1,964 Great Deals out of 40,024 listings starting at $1,100

Used Honda Accord

1,488 Great Deals out of 28,916 listings starting at $1,200

Used Chevrolet Malibu

952 Great Deals out of 23,948 listings starting at $800

Used Ford Escape

1,919 Great Deals out of 57,086 listings starting at $300

Used Jeep Grand Cherokee

2,404 Great Deals out of 50,996 listings starting at $1,295

2019 Ford Taurus For Sale

3 Great Deals out of 104 listings starting at $8,800

2018 Ford Taurus For Sale

30 Great Deals out of 287 listings starting at $5,900

2017 Ford Taurus For Sale

10 Great Deals out of 242 listings starting at $4,495

2016 Ford Taurus For Sale

20 Great Deals out of 225 listings starting at $2,899

2015 Ford Taurus For Sale

23 Great Deals out of 284 listings starting at $4,495

Content submitted by Users is not endorsed by CarGurus, does not express the opinions of CarGurus, and should not be considered reviewed, screened, or approved by CarGurus. Please refer to CarGurus Terms of Use. Content will be removed if CarGurus becomes aware that it violates our policies.

Went to rescue niece last night, she has a 2003 ford taurus, thought it was a dead battery but when charger connected lights came on immediately...and it did start...guy thought it might be alternator

1 Answer

Your Answer:

Own this car?

Share your experience with others.

Shortcuts

Search Ford Taurus Questions

CarGurus Experts

Know more, shop wisely

Related Models For Sale

Used Cars for Sale

Went to rescue niece last night, she has a 2003 ford taurus, thought it was a dead battery but when charger connected lights came on immediately...and it did start...guy thought it might be alternator

1 Answer

Your Answer:

Related Questions