Electrical problems
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,242
Likes: 2
From: Bartlett, TN
Electrical problems
I'm not sure if I am in the right area, so I will be posting this in the Y Block forum as well.
I have an electical problem with my 54. It runs fine most of the time. Of late, it has problems starting. If I leave it alone, it cranks fine. If I run anything without the engine running, the battery loses its charge and it won't start. I am thinking battery, but a friend of mine put a multimeter on the battery and says he doesn't think the alternator is charging.
Does the trick of starting the truck and removing the power side from the battery really work? If I remove the red cable from the battery, the engine stays running. I'm not sure of this being a tell all sign.
Help!
I have an electical problem with my 54. It runs fine most of the time. Of late, it has problems starting. If I leave it alone, it cranks fine. If I run anything without the engine running, the battery loses its charge and it won't start. I am thinking battery, but a friend of mine put a multimeter on the battery and says he doesn't think the alternator is charging.
Does the trick of starting the truck and removing the power side from the battery really work? If I remove the red cable from the battery, the engine stays running. I'm not sure of this being a tell all sign.
Help!
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
From: Western Shore of Virginia
Electrical problems
Glenn: If you did not have a problem with your alternator,you will if you remove either the ground or positive terminal from the battery when the engine is running!!!!The current has to go someware.It will probably take out one side or the other of the dioads. Remove the pos.terminal on the alternator and install in (series) a ammeter then run again and check if you have output. of coarse this does not apply if you have a generator not an alternator which a stock 54 had.
Elder User
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 736
Likes: 0
From: Owasso Oklahoma USA
Electrical problems
An easy check of the alternator to see if it is charging is to use a multimeter on the 20 volt DC scale on the battery posts. Check the voltage with the engine off first. If it is 12 volts the battery is probably OK. If it is lower you may have a dead cell. Start the engine and check again while it idles. You should get 13.5 to 14.5 volts if the alternator is charging. If the voltage is over 15 then the voltage regulator is not working. If you get the same voltage as when the engine was off then the alternator is dead.
