Q: Needs jumped to run

asked by on June 03, 2017

My van won't start. Like battery is dead. It starts up fine but second I disconnect from the car jumping me it dies. I check voltage on battery. It shows. 13 volts with battery disconnected. From car. With battery connected to terminals it pulls it down to 3.5 volts. The heavy. Gauge wire that runs to alternator. If I disconnect that heavy gauge wire from positive side. Of battery the voltage goes back up to 12.5 but second I put wire back running from alternator. It drops to 3.5. This is with car just sitting without being started When I jump car it starts right up. But second I disconnect from jump car. My car instantly dies It's like there's dead short in alternator. Is,that possible?

My car has 193000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

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