Battery problem?? Starter?? HELP!!!

[dirkdigles]

Hey all -I am having a problem with my 2003 Matrix XRS (purchased in May '02). Saturday (three days ago), the car was working fine, as normal. Sunday, I get in the car, and it appears the battery is almost completely dead and the car won't turn over.I did not leave any lights / electronics / anything turned on overnight. There is so little electric power that the power locks don't even work, and the little dash indicator lights are flickering. When I attempt to start the car, I get an extremely faint clicking noise of some sort, and more dash indicator lights flicker just a little bit. So I figure the battery is dead, but I am not sure -I bring the battery into my workplace, and it is charged up by a heavy duty battery charger, and it appears to be holding charge decently (used a multimeter to check) and we also put a load meter on the battery as well, to measure voltage after putting a load on it (the voltage dropped a tiny bit after each load, as it should have). So I take the "fully charged" battery home, pop it in the car, then I went upstairs to check on something (probably ~30 minutes elapsed), then went to start the car again and exact same thing happened as before, although the battery seemed to initially have more charge (because the keyless entry worked and flashed the lights).BTW, I tried jumping the car with 2 different autos -a Chevy Lumina and a VW Passat, and neither could jump the Matrix - it behaved the same as if the other cars weren't attached (except the dome lights were on, and the cars appeared to give the battery a little charge).I want to at least for sure eliminate the battery from the equation before I call for the tow truck (I have the platinum care warranty so towing is free, but it won't be free if its a battery problem - but if it was, I could just buy a battery and install it myself). I don't have any friends willing to swap batteries with me (well, the one with the Passat is, but the battery is such a pain in the a** to get out of that car...).What do you guys think????Thanks,-Dirk

[drunkenmaxx]

battery is most likely shot. might want to check your alternator too, just to be sure that's working fine. you can get it tested for free at autozone.

[dirkdigles]

I can get my alternator tested or my battery? And would the battery have to be in the car (because I can't move the car )

[drunkenmaxx]

they test both for free there. you can take the battery in and they will check it out, without the car.

[dirkdigles]

They do that at Sears as well? I only ask because there is a Sears a lot closer Oh - and if the battery is dead, how would they test it? They can still see if its good or not (like needing to just be charged vs needing to be replaced)?

[Houston]

Whether or not the burglar alarm is activated, it slowly drains the battery. Two winters ago and after I was foolish enough to leave my Grand Prix in the garage for two weeks without starting it, the engine wouldn't crank. I called AAA towing. They couldn't get it to turn over, so towed it to my dealer. The dealer charged the battery and all has been just fine since then. They told me the alarm drains the battery whether or not it's activated. Be aware of this potential problem.

[joatmon]

check for corrosion on the battery terminals, clean the battery terminals and cable ends well. Use a wire brush or fine sandpaper, you want nice clean leadAlso check the negative cable connection at the engine block.