bad wires?
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: Evanston, WY
bad wires?
So i went to start my truck the other day and it was completely dead. not even my stereo would come on. so i brought my car up and jumped it. after about an hour of messing i finally got it started. it ran good for about five minutes then just died. so i tried again and it was dead again. i took my multi-meter and tested the battery. it had 11.73. i know its kinda iffy on wehter or not it would turn over my 400 but atleast my stereo should have come on shouldnt it? i think i either have a bad alternator or bad wires in my system. any help would be greatly appriecated. thanks.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 621
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From: near pittsburgh pa
No, that wont tell you if it's charging.
When you cleaned posts, did you take terminals off and clean battery post and inside of terminals? If not you must do it. Also did you clean the ground wire form the battery to engine block at the engine block? Also must be done.
Does all work well with a jumper hooked to your truck? If you still have to fool around for voltage, check both big post on solenoid for voltage with key in the start position. check the smaller posts for voltage with key off, 1 will have volts an 1 will not if all is working correctly. Good Luck, if that doesn't work, let us know.
When you cleaned posts, did you take terminals off and clean battery post and inside of terminals? If not you must do it. Also did you clean the ground wire form the battery to engine block at the engine block? Also must be done.
Does all work well with a jumper hooked to your truck? If you still have to fool around for voltage, check both big post on solenoid for voltage with key in the start position. check the smaller posts for voltage with key off, 1 will have volts an 1 will not if all is working correctly. Good Luck, if that doesn't work, let us know.
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Junior User
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From: Evanston, WY
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
You said you had a multi-meter. Go ahead and check the voltage at the battery with the engine running. You risk damaging anything electronic in the truck when you pull the battery cable off with the engine running.
