Electrical drain
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Cross-Country
Joined: Jan 2023
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Electrical drain
My 1983 F250 4.9L I6 currently doesn't run, I just rebuilt the carburetor and put a new alternator on it. The battery is fairly new, within the past 6 months. My issue is that I can get maybe one good attempt at starting the truck before the battery doesn't seem to want to crank anymore. If I go more than once, it starts to try and crank really slowly like the battery is already dying. Is there something draining power?
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 7,178
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Did somebody say slow-cranking starter?!!! By the beard of Zeus, charge that poor battery and then read this:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...w-starter.html
Is something draining your battery? Could be, but charge it first and see how the starter system behaves. The problem could be as simple as the battery being partially discharged from 6 months of inactivity.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...w-starter.html
Is something draining your battery? Could be, but charge it first and see how the starter system behaves. The problem could be as simple as the battery being partially discharged from 6 months of inactivity.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 7,178
Likes: 1,174
1) The battery can supply adequate voltage under the load of the starter.
2) The rest of the starter system (cables, starter relay, and all connections) can handle this massive flow of electrons without undue restriction.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,338
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Unless you have a maintenance free sealed battery before charging your battery check the electrolyte level in the cells and make sure the level is up to the bottom of the fill tube. When at the proper level the electrolyte surface goes convex as surface tension forms just inside the tube. Do not overfill. Always use distilled water to top off batteries. If left low capacitance will be reduced and sulfates can build up on the plates further degrading the capacitance of the battery.
A properly charged battery will hold 12.6 volts after standing overnight.
A properly charged battery will hold 12.6 volts after standing overnight.
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,935
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From: Angier, NC
Do the test Karl posted of as it will tell you where the issue is.
FYI most trucks with a 300 six has the NEG battery cable from the battery down to the frame rail then on to the top bolt of the starter.
The factory cable has a tab that is used to bolt to the frame rail then down to the starter bolt,
Most use 2 cables to make this run.
The POS battery cable runs to the solenoid out of the solenoid to the starter.
As a side note there should be heavy gauge wire from the left side of the motor to the firewall to ground the body.
There is also a braided cable from firewall to hood.
The solenoid also needs to be grounded good to the fender too.
Dave ----
FYI most trucks with a 300 six has the NEG battery cable from the battery down to the frame rail then on to the top bolt of the starter.
The factory cable has a tab that is used to bolt to the frame rail then down to the starter bolt,
Most use 2 cables to make this run.
The POS battery cable runs to the solenoid out of the solenoid to the starter.
As a side note there should be heavy gauge wire from the left side of the motor to the firewall to ground the body.
There is also a braided cable from firewall to hood.
The solenoid also needs to be grounded good to the fender too.
Dave ----
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goldieWilson
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