# Alternator and Battery failure **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [August 2, 2011, 3:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-and-battery-failure/66805 "2011-08-02T15:38:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![johnpatwalsh1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/db5fbb/32.png) [@johnpatwalsh1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/johnpatwalsh1)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 3:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-and-battery-failure/66805/1 "2011-08-02T15:38:59Z")
If you give another car a jump start with battery cables could you damage your own battery and alternator. I did this for a friend about two years ago and this past week I had to get a new battery and alternator. The original battery and alternator were approx. 5 years old. ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-and-battery-failure/66805/2 "2011-08-02T15:52:34Z")
2 Years ago? I’m sure you could damage your own charging system but I seriously doubt it would take 2 years to show. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 4:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-and-battery-failure/66805/3 "2011-08-02T16:15:01Z")
" I did this for a friend about two years ago and this past week I had to get a new battery and alternator. The original battery and alternator were approx. 5 years old." ``` Sorry but it would seem unlikely that it would have taken two years to show up even if there was damage. That said, I suggest that you tell us that make a model car you have. Some are more sensitive to things like that than others. You should find out now so you will know, next time someone needs some help. ``` ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/alternator-and-battery-failure/66805/4 "2011-08-02T16:42:07Z")
I find this question to be very odd. Its like asking whether the flat tire you got yesterday was caused by the road debris you ran over 2 years ago. Alternators & batteries are wear & tear items. They occasionally have to be replaced. I think maybe you should tell the whole story. Who is mad at whom? And what should the discussion _really_ be about?