# Electrical system

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/electrical-system/38509>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** caravan, dodge\
**Created:** [October 23, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/electrical-system/38509 "2009-10-23T17:26:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ingewillers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2bfe46/32.png) [@ingewillers](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ingewillers)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/electrical-system/38509/1 "2009-10-23T17:26:42Z")

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my car starts fine on a fully charged battery. However, after driving for a while the engine just “dies”. Like the battery is drained. with a re-charged battery the same happens all over again. do I need the alternator repaired/replaced?

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**Author:** ![willey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a9adbd/32.png) [@willey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/willey)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 7:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/electrical-system/38509/2 "2009-10-23T19:06:26Z")

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Sounds like the battery is not being charged. You need to have the charging system checked.

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**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:** [October 23, 2009, 10:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/electrical-system/38509/3 "2009-10-23T22:33:26Z")

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Many auto part stores will check your charging system for free. I suspect that you will soon need a new battery.