Battery problems

[Janus1981]

Hi everyone,
I’ve been having problems with my battery in that I’m having to jump it a lot recently. It makes me think the alternator is the problem. Yesterday it started making that squealing drive belt noise. Is it possible that a faulty drive belt is the root of the problem?

[cheesesliceking]

Squealing is the belt slipping, the only real way to be sure is to use a multimeter across the battery poles to test its charging

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=COJr7OB23Hw

It could also be going flat due to a fault where something is discharging the battery, what make, model year etc is it?

[Janus1981]

Thanks. It’s a 202 Honda Civic. So not new lol. It only started getting problematic when it started getting cold

[A1VDY]

Janus1981 said:

Hi everyone,
I’ve been having problems with my battery in that I’m having to jump it a lot recently. It makes me think the alternator is the problem. Yesterday it started making that squealing drive belt noise. Is it possible that a faulty drive belt is the root of the problem?

It's likely the belt is loose. The squealing noise is the belt slipping over the pulleys when the alternator is under load ie charging the battery. Check the belt tension first then have a battery and charge rate check done.

[paintman]

Check your belt tension.
After jump starting are you fully charging your battery with a battery charger or just doing a bit of driving? If the latter I'm not surprised you're having to keep jump starting as your battery is remaining deeply discharged.
https://www.optimabatteries.com/en-us/experience/2...

[Dogwatch]

How old is the battery? They don't last for ever.
Yes, the alternator drive belt needs renewing but if the battery is knackered then replacement isn't going to help much.

[E-bmw]

Janus1981 said:

Thanks. It’s a 202 Honda Civic. So not new lol. It only started getting problematic when it started getting cold

Low temperatures are the enemy of iffy batteries FYI.

[Penelope Stopit]

Does come across as faulty or discharged battery is making alternator work harder which in turn is showing up a belt problem