charging system problems
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 14
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From: wichita
charging system problems
hey all
well where to start
when i bought this truck 1980 ranger lariat
it was missing the regulator, so i got a new one
well right away the new battery i bought was dead after sitting over nite
so i checked and my cables would spark when i rubbed it against
the battery post
definate short, so i searched and searched
and never could find the short
so i just started unhookin the battery over nite
well this worked fine for several months
then it started that the battery wasnt holding a charge any longer
ok so im out driving, and i smell the battery
that sucker was overcharging yet wouldnt hold a charge
anyway i get out and unhook the battery cable and wrap it up
tryin to get back home, and not blow up the battery
it was still runnin ok, i got in the truck and drive bout 20 feet and
it died, and now it just turns over when i try and start it(with a jump)
as u can guess its about to get drove in the river and left for dead
unless someone has any ideas how i might fix this complicated mess
any ideas at all are welcome.....
well where to start
when i bought this truck 1980 ranger lariat
it was missing the regulator, so i got a new one
well right away the new battery i bought was dead after sitting over nite
so i checked and my cables would spark when i rubbed it against
the battery post
definate short, so i searched and searched
and never could find the short
so i just started unhookin the battery over nite
well this worked fine for several months
then it started that the battery wasnt holding a charge any longer
ok so im out driving, and i smell the battery
that sucker was overcharging yet wouldnt hold a charge
anyway i get out and unhook the battery cable and wrap it up
tryin to get back home, and not blow up the battery
it was still runnin ok, i got in the truck and drive bout 20 feet and
it died, and now it just turns over when i try and start it(with a jump)
as u can guess its about to get drove in the river and left for dead
unless someone has any ideas how i might fix this complicated mess
any ideas at all are welcome.....
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 834
Likes: 0
From: Germany
Hi,
first of all welcome to FTE.
The first thing what you should do is to check the charching power with an amperemeter.
To check for a short, unhook the neg. cable, use a test light between the neg cable and the neg port of the battery. If the testlight glows up there is the short in you electrical system.
To find out where it is...just pull the fuses, one by one until the testlight goes out.
You wrote you bought an new regulator, is this Regulator properly installed, is the Reg. connechted to ground?
just an idea....
Jens
first of all welcome to FTE.
The first thing what you should do is to check the charching power with an amperemeter.
To check for a short, unhook the neg. cable, use a test light between the neg cable and the neg port of the battery. If the testlight glows up there is the short in you electrical system.
To find out where it is...just pull the fuses, one by one until the testlight goes out.
You wrote you bought an new regulator, is this Regulator properly installed, is the Reg. connechted to ground?
just an idea....
Jens
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: wichita
hey thanx for the welcome : )
ok i didnt use a test lite
but the short is big enough that u can see the spark when rubbing the neg cable against the post
i did the fuse thing, and it sparked still with every fuse gone
one at a time of course
and i also looked at power wire to starter
and theres no bare spots anywhere on that wire
is it possable for the solenoid to cause a short?
the regulator is pretty much idiot proof, one plug goes in one way
my thoughts are that short killed the regulator
is that possible?
ok i didnt use a test lite
but the short is big enough that u can see the spark when rubbing the neg cable against the post
i did the fuse thing, and it sparked still with every fuse gone
one at a time of course
and i also looked at power wire to starter
and theres no bare spots anywhere on that wire
is it possable for the solenoid to cause a short?
the regulator is pretty much idiot proof, one plug goes in one way
my thoughts are that short killed the regulator
is that possible?
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: wichita
just to let ya know
the ignition module was the culprit
it was my short, it killed my regulator
then it died altogether
the ignition module was the culprit
it was my short, it killed my regulator
then it died altogether
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Elder User
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From: Germany
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