My dad left the headlights on to the point of draining the battery. We jumped the car and took it for a spin to try and charge the battery. We turned the headlights on while driving and the car just died. I'm thinking its a short or something but i cant put my finger on it. Any suggestions?

 

You need a new battery.

 

I jumped it again and let it run, but the alternator gauge wasn't showing it charging. Faulty alternator and a dead battery perhaps?

 

faulty alt, faulty regulater or shorted battery my guess is the same as mr340 you shorted the battery

 

I still think:

 

The last I knew, those resistive battery testers run around $50. And in my case we have used it about 3 times in 5 years. Try and find a buddy or even take it up to a garage and have the battery tested.

Batteries and alternators get expensive replacing one or the other unnecessarily!

 

Indeed. It would suck having to but a new alt or battery because of a faulty $15 voltage regulator. The thing that confuses me is that I have replaced the alternator and the voltage regulator since January.

 

take the battery out and put a 1 to 2 day charge on it as most people dont relize you dont get a deep charge with just charging it for a mile or to so put a long charge on it and make sure you check the acid in it to the lvl or after you charge it really good take it to your nearest auto store and have them check it that way your there if you need one

 

you might also want to check the fuseible link wire to make sure you didnt fry it while jumping it

 

I don't know about where you live but, batteries are about 100 bucks now. No matter what the size. And lately batteries have been going dead without any signs.

But in this case, there are 2 simple tests.
1. take the battery to a Kragen, Napa, Autozone or uncle Jeb's garage to be tested for it's ability to hold a charge.
2. Using a 20 dollar volt meter on the DC setting, check the voltage when the car is running. If you don't have more than 12 volts measured at the battery, the alternator or voltage regulator has a problem.

Hmm.
Let us know what you found.

 

Get the car started and remove the positive battery cable.

If the car dies, it's your alternator or something else in the charging system.

If it stays running, it's the battery.

Unfortunately, you need a good battery to perform the test and it sounds like your battery is in bad shape because it won't run the car and the headlights at the same time.

So, do like Challenger said and put a good slow charge on the battery first.