Dead , Dead , Dead ...
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Edmonds , WA
Hay thax for all the info guys ... its always greatly appreciated , * John, the Les Schwab I was at said they couldn't test it there .... not sure why.. I didn't ask ..... Yes I have considerd trading in/selling/shooting this rig .... this is by far the most problems I've ever had on any one vehicle I have owned .... but then again what I can afford to dofor a new rig will probley just end up with more headaches .... Love my truck , just hate all the freaking problems with it ..... oh well ... Thanks again guys .....
More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 636
Likes: 7
From: La Mesa, Ca.
This truck still has a lot of good mileage left in it. You said that you had both batteries recharged and then drove it home. You said that he voltage meter slowly went down as you were driving. You said that the batteries drain down between starts. My guess is that the alternator has a shorted diode and is causing you all this grief. I would have the alternator rebuilt at a local re-builder in your area, that has been in the area for a while. They can test tell you exactly what is wrong, show the bad parts and then rebuild the alternator to original spec. I would not go to your local parts store for a rebuilt unit, you have no idea what the quality of the parts were used'
Nick
Nick
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 81
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From: Edmonds , WA
..... GGGrrrrr ... pulled bolt h batteries and charged them ... though them back in the truck... checked voltage.... 11.5 or so on bolth so they had dropped a little since I charged them . Talking things over and scowering under the hood with my dad for maybe 10 min. , went to crank the engine and nothing ... no light in dash or anything ... so I'm thinking the batteries are drained already ??? cchecked voltage on them.. they had dropped to 2.5 on bolth ...... yanked them out to put back on the charger and had a bug to test them again ..... 11.5 on bolth .... WTF ........????? short some place ? Grounding themselves out ???? now Im realy confused ..... cant check the alt if I cant fire it up short of taking it some place ..... ????? IDEAS ?????? 
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25,090
Likes: 1,112
From: Rio Rico, AZ.
..... GGGrrrrr ... pulled bolt h batteries and charged them ... though them back in the truck... checked voltage.... 11.5 or so on bolth so they had dropped a little since I charged them . Talking things over and scowering under the hood with my dad for maybe 10 min. , went to crank the engine and nothing ... no light in dash or anything ... so I'm thinking the batteries are drained already ??? cchecked voltage on them.. they had dropped to 2.5 on bolth ...... yanked them out to put back on the charger and had a bug to test them again ..... 11.5 on bolth .... WTF ........????? short some place ? Grounding themselves out ???? now Im realy confused ..... cant check the alt if I cant fire it up short of taking it some place ..... ????? IDEAS ??????
How long did you charge the batteries and with what did you use to charge them? 11.5 volts is too low, you need about 12.5-12.75 for a good charge.
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Edmonds , WA
no corosion..... good connections that we can see .... Batterys where charged up fine .... but why would it read 12.5 V out of the truck and 2.5 one ther in and hooked up unless there's a short in the system ... something is dead faulting these things .....
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25,090
Likes: 1,112
From: Rio Rico, AZ.
You run some marginal batteries down to 0 and they won't come back up no matter how hard you try.
Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt a long time ago.
Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt a long time ago.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 17,988
Likes: 207
From: La La Land
By what method are you determining that the batteries are charged?
Just having them on a charger means nothing, really.
HOW do you tell your batteries are charged? Fully charged?
Pop
Just having them on a charger means nothing, really.
HOW do you tell your batteries are charged? Fully charged?
Pop
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 81
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From: Edmonds , WA
WAIT WAIT WAIT > ....... What part of .... batteries are fine they hold a charge when charged ......... Tested with a meter not the charger ......... they are 12.5 before putting in the truck... once I hook them up they drop , I can put my voltege meterr on the terminals and they are showing 2.5 right after I stick them in ... remove from truck and they show 12.5 ....... 
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 17,988
Likes: 207
From: La La Land
I have lost confidence that you are able to properly determine charge state.
Do you know what a specific gravity hydrometer is? Do you have one for the range that needs to be covered for battery electrolyte? Have you used one on THESE batteries to determine your state of charge?
What do you mean by "WAIT WAIT WAIT >"?
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(about to unsubscribe from thread)
Do you know what a specific gravity hydrometer is? Do you have one for the range that needs to be covered for battery electrolyte? Have you used one on THESE batteries to determine your state of charge?
What do you mean by "WAIT WAIT WAIT >"?
Pop
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 303
Likes: 0
From: Central Washington State
If the batteries are even marginally good, any short that takes them from full to dead as fast as you describe should create a flash that I'm sure you would have told us about by now. either you are checking for charge with the charger still hooked up, your batteries ore bad, or your meter is bad. I agree with Marv, as usual.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 17,988
Likes: 207
From: La La Land
If anyone's interested, here's a good article about properly charging lead-acid batteries:
Charging Lead Acid – Battery University
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Charging Lead Acid – Battery University
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