good for 5's (minutes)

[grim_turb]

would it be agreed that it is my alternator that is causing my car to need to be jump started and then only driving for about 5 mins( or less) before dying.
i know its not the battery because i have just replaced that.

if it is the alternator, has any one got one for sale?

[Hyperblade]

Is the alternator light going?

[grim_turb]

is that the light on the far right side of the instrument panel.
and yes it is going but i put a new alternator in it and it is still on, as well as the battery light.

[Hyperblade]

Isn't that the pgm-f1 light? Do you have any computer codes lighting up?

Once the city is started it doesn't actualy need the battery to keep on going.

[PGNUTA]

In theory if the alternator was dead then you could read the voltage across the battery as very low when the car dies after 5 minutes.

The car should get it's power from the battery by default if the alternator is not supplying charge.

[grim_turb]

ive got no computer lights showing.
i replaced the alternator, and thats achieved nothing.
so if any one can suggest a reason for this i would be incredibly thankful

[crooky]

Sounds obvious but make sure your battery is really well earthed

[PGNUTA]

The jump starting problem is most likely the starter motor or solenoid,  The problem with cutting out after five minutes may be atributed to the common 'main relay dry joint' problem.  Could be that heat induced into the circuit in your main relay is causing it to fail after a limited time.

We've seen this happen a few times before and it was the main relay.  You can probably do a search through the forums to find all related posts regarding how to problem solve this / physically locate it.  I could repeat it here but there would little point since it's already documented.

[city_cabriolet]

if your new battery is being sucked dry with a new alternator, you may need to check the voltage regulator. All power has to pass through it before charging the battery... this could be the jump-start prob...

Edit: they can corrode and/or overhead and fry with age.