Hello:
My '81 would not start today, battery was weak. Took it in to local chain auto store. They charged for under an hour and gave it back saying it was "good".
Came home and put it back in, still would not turn starter, lights glowing very dim. Checked with my little multimeter, it shows putting out 9 volts.
Can my battery be good while only putting out 9 volts?

Thank-you for reply

 

Was this test done before you hooked up the cables or after?
Taken on the posts or on the cables?
Also if after was it after trying to start it?

This should help pin point the issue https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...w-starter.html
Dave ----

 

I installed the battery and hooked up cables. Then I tried to start it...no luck. Then I checked voltage from posts.
Thank-you for reply.
Negative cable has bare copper showing just next to connector on post. Positive cable is new. . Could this cause weak voltage when checked directly from posts?

 

Normally no but ..... the bare part can let acid in and gives a place for the green stuff to take hold. That raises the resistance of the cable and causes other issues but should not show 9 volts.

I say remove the cables from the batt, charge it up and take a reading, should be 12.6 volts.
Wile it is charging I would replace the other batt cables just so I know they are good. Get the largest ones you can. Last time I bought mine they had a small dia and large dia, I went large.

The positive is from batt to solenoid> Solenoid to starter.
This holder is the frame ground (right side) and holds the positive to the starter (left side)


Negative down to frame by motor mount then down to 1 of the starter bolts. You can run the ground to the motor and another cable to the frame.

There is also an 8ga wire ground from the left side of the motor to fire wall. Sorry no picture.
And a braided wire from fire wall to hood.
None of the wires missing would cause the 9 volts but can cause other issues.

Once charged and showing 12.6 volts hook the cables backup and check again if 9 volts you have to have a pretty good short somewhere.
Any thing done just before this happened?
Dave ----

 

My mechanic came over this morning and jumped the truck with his jump box. He replaced the battery connector and advises me to buy a new battery, old one was seven years old. Alternator checked out good.
I did so and drove it home.

Thank-you very much for replies.

 

Good to hear you are up and running again.
Thank You for posting what the fix was as it may help others.
Dave ----