So during the winter, I stopped driving the 8 daily, and there's a couple of times where I'd deplete the battery and had to have it charged at auto zone.

These couple of days, the electrical system's completely acting up.

The car's electrical system (DSC, radio, clock etc.) would flicker/"restart?" every time a "significant" amount of electricity was being used (high beam, a/c, audio system etc.)

And on top of that, sometimes when I parked the car, came back to it, the battery would seem to be depleted. I used a portable "jump-starter" and it fired right back up. (That's when I think I have a bad alternator? Battery not charging well?)

But then the second time it does that, I got out of the car, closed the door, locked it, then unlocked it, and it'd be fine again, start right back up. (So do I have a bad battery, bad connection or what?)

I have a Optima Red Top, Engine was replaced abt 5k miles ago.

This is so depressing... I don't know what's wrong with it at all. Someone shed some light please?

 

your battery may not be able to hold a charge. I'd have the battery tested.

 

well I did plugin my AP and it was showing as high as 14.7v and as low as 11.xx

 

Either an alternator or a bad connection. Unless your battery is completely shot (in which it probably would never start the engine on its own), it's not going to be a battery problem.

11.xx Volts while running? It should never drop below 14v while running. Voltage dropping that low would certainly affect electrical components, as you mentioned above. That's definitely your alternator or a bad connection (either between the alternator/battery or battery/ground.)

Don't be sad... We'll have your 8 all fixed and happy in no time!

 

Yep, turns out it IS the battery connections. I mean it's been all corroded and **** all along, just didn't know it had something to do with it since everything was functional till recently. Now I feel like an idiot.
So kids! If searches brought you to this thread, clean the terminals if not, redo the battery connections!

Thanks Wingznut.