Car won't start? Starts but dies immediately?

Today, I had a young lady pull into my gas stations, a local, and regular who comes in everyday on her way to school. Never has she had a problem with her Jeep Cherokee.

She went to start it and all we heard was, click...click...click..several times over. We popped the hood and I took a gander - her battery terminals were a bit corroded, not too bad, so I happened to have a battery in the back of my car (brand new); I tried to jump start her from it, but it wasn't enough - her jeep would start then die. So, I hooked my car up to it - still wouldn't start - so, I took her battery out, and put in my new one.

Bam, it started right up and stayed running - however, I am positive this was not the issue alone - I think she may need a new fuel filter as well - so, I let her go with my new battery until she gets a new one. I assured her it wasn't her alternator, as I disconnected both terminals and the Jeep stayed running - Yes, the engine runs on the charge of the alternator - the battery is charged by the alternator - her battery was bad - but due to the fact she has a factory alarm that, for some reason goes off everytime she open her door, then she has to unlock her back hatch to dis-engage it.

Then she can start her Jeep.

So, use this as a resource if you experience such an incident with your car, truck, mini-van etc.

carsandcomps,

Guru, Premium Expert @ Fixya.com

Applies to all vehicles.