...no charge/car won't start. Ideas? The battery is brand new, just over a week, but starting yesterday, i've had to junp the car 3 times. it sat overnight and started in the morning, but only hours later i had to jump it again. however, the most recent time, immediately after turning the car off, it would not start. i don't know what to do next aside from go to a mechanic, which i would prefer was a last resort.

I had the same prob with a cougar I had, I replaced the battery and the alternator, and here it was a $9.00 voltage regulator.

It's probably a faulty wire from your alternator since it does charge your battery. Check that out. If good, I would just double check your battery cables/battery and your alternator itself. AutoZone can diagnose them with no problem. If it's not the battery or alternator, it's most likely a wire. Or, a light, turn signal, light inside the car or any accessory could have been left on which drained the battery. One more idea, make sure your battery cables and alternator wires and ground wires are fully tightened. And even though your battery is new, it might have came dead. It happened to me more times than I would have liked. You can take the to AutoZone and they can charge it up for ya if you don't have a battery charger if it's turns out to be low. Good luck!