Has 37,000 miles on it (had it for 3.5 years so far)

Last week the polar vortex happened here in Chicago with temperatures reaching as low as -18. On the day of the vortex I went to start my car and it wouldn't start, which made sense since it was so cold. I had someone jump my car and it started and then died again. I then had another jump and this time the panel lights would turn on. But, the car wouldn't turn over. I then had another jump and this time it wouldn't start, so I gave up. The following day I had it jumped again and this time the panel lights flickered on and off and still wouldn't turn over. I then took my battery to autozone and they told me it was at 0% percent. They then proceeded to charge it for that whole day because I couldn't pick it up until the following day. I went to pick up the battery and they tested it twice and it said that it was a "good battery". I then put the charged battery back into my car and the car still wouldn't start.

Does anybody have any ideas of what the issue is? Do I need a new battery? Alternator? Or is it something more serious.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm at a loss at this point and I'm possibly looking to get it towed, so a mechanic can take a look at it.

 

I'd start with a new battery. Get the bigger 51R size.

Don't forget to touch the two battery cables together for 5 - 10 seconds to dissipate any residual charge.

 

Agreed. I'd spend the $100-150 in case that is the "cheap" fix

 

Hello Freaks,

Please Please Please take note of this... A dead car battery will freeze almost like water at 32 degrees F. A fully charged battery will go to like -70 degree F.

When it has been freezing and your battery is dead, DO NOT JUMP START OR CHARGE IT. This is incredibly risky. Even the parts store either waited or didn't know better and attempted a charge that could endanger any employees in the area.

Public Service Announcement = Complete