Where to find battery cables?
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Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Colstrip, MT
Where to find battery cables?
I have a 1995 4.0 Litre Aerostar with some apparent battery cable problems. I can't find a source for original cables. Does anybody know of a source or are you guys just "cutting and pasting" to make your own cables.
I have some white material built up around both the negative and positive cables.
My problem is this: Battery checks out good at 12.6 volts. With engine running, battery reads 15.0 volts. The only way I can start the vehicle is to jump the battery from another vehicle, and vehicle starts right up. If I try to start the aerostar without jumping, I can hear the starter clunk, but nothing happens. Am I not getting enough juice from the cables to the starter to start the engine? Thank You for any insight you can provide.
I have some white material built up around both the negative and positive cables.
My problem is this: Battery checks out good at 12.6 volts. With engine running, battery reads 15.0 volts. The only way I can start the vehicle is to jump the battery from another vehicle, and vehicle starts right up. If I try to start the aerostar without jumping, I can hear the starter clunk, but nothing happens. Am I not getting enough juice from the cables to the starter to start the engine? Thank You for any insight you can provide.
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Salt Lake City, Utah
Ok, before you waste money on parts that may not be bad, head in to your auto parts store and have the starting system tested. You could have a bad starter. A quick starter test will confirm. You can buy cables at any parts store. You need to get the premade cables of the proper length with the pigtail wire that powers the accessories. You crimp it onto the existing wireing, and then seal it with heat shrink tubing or liquid tape.
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Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Colstrip, MT
Thank You for the reply. The nearest auto parts place is 130 miles. I only want to make 1 trip if necessary. Can you tell me what the resistance should be on that length of good battery cable?
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Gentlemen,
If your battery votage running is 15 and car starts great when jumped you have a virtually confirmed bad battery. You can not test a battery with a voltmeter and no load. Have your battery checked, that is my bet.
ken
If your battery votage running is 15 and car starts great when jumped you have a virtually confirmed bad battery. You can not test a battery with a voltmeter and no load. Have your battery checked, that is my bet.
ken
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Originally Posted by fatherdoug
ken1mod, are you saying that the 12.6 volt reading across the terminals of the battery when the engine is not started isn't an indicator that the battery is good?
In this case the charging system is delivering 15 volts when running. That is perfect. When the battery is jumped, the truck starts perfectly, you have just tested the starter and cables and gotten an a+ grade. Assuming the battery terminals are clean. Do this first. Clean terminals are imperative.
Have the battery tested under load, this is free and I bet there will be a failure of the battery test. You also might swap a known good battery if this is possible. I always do the cheap stuff first. In this case, free.
Ken
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Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Colstrip, MT
I understand now, especially about the free stuff. The cables and posts have already been cleaned. Thank You.
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Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Colstrip, MT
Update,
Thank You, Ken. A battery from a known good vehicle started the aerostar. I'll chock that one up to experience. The battery was only 3 years old, guaranteed for five and indicated a full charge after charging on a machine. The death of the battery was probably that the aerostar is used as a second vehicle an sits for long periods of time with no use, although I start the vehicle every two weeks and run it or drive it for about 1/2 hour. Thanks again.
Doug
Thank You, Ken. A battery from a known good vehicle started the aerostar. I'll chock that one up to experience. The battery was only 3 years old, guaranteed for five and indicated a full charge after charging on a machine. The death of the battery was probably that the aerostar is used as a second vehicle an sits for long periods of time with no use, although I start the vehicle every two weeks and run it or drive it for about 1/2 hour. Thanks again.
Doug
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You betcha. You really ought to use a vehicle regularly but my batteries seldom last more than 3 years too.
You might want to start the aero and after a 10 minute drive put your meter on the battery with the vehicle still running and a/c and lights off. You should see at least 13 volts or a bit higher. this will confirm charging system health. I suppose the dashboard voltmeter would give the same info though.
Ken
Ken
You might want to start the aero and after a 10 minute drive put your meter on the battery with the vehicle still running and a/c and lights off. You should see at least 13 volts or a bit higher. this will confirm charging system health. I suppose the dashboard voltmeter would give the same info though.
Ken
Ken
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Washington state
doug,
Montana cold winters are extremely hard on a battery, especially if it drains out to normal clock and other feeds and parked outside or in unheated garage....anything below 30d F causes unwanted chemical changes in a battery and worsens as battery discharges....
put a low current, less than 1 amp, small trickle charger on it during the winter....
i get 6-8 years on dime store batts with a small trickle charger on rigs parked outside during winter
heat and cold kill good batteries
Montana cold winters are extremely hard on a battery, especially if it drains out to normal clock and other feeds and parked outside or in unheated garage....anything below 30d F causes unwanted chemical changes in a battery and worsens as battery discharges....
put a low current, less than 1 amp, small trickle charger on it during the winter....
i get 6-8 years on dime store batts with a small trickle charger on rigs parked outside during winter
heat and cold kill good batteries
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Atlanta GA
15 volts is too high, this indicates a bad cell in the battery or a bad voltage regulator. I would be wiling to bet your battery is getting very hot while the truck is running if charging at 15 volts.
Remove the caps from the battery and see if the water is low if the battery is not sealed.
As for the cables, I would mail order them from Western Electric with the lugs already swagged on if you need cables.
Remove the caps from the battery and see if the water is low if the battery is not sealed.
As for the cables, I would mail order them from Western Electric with the lugs already swagged on if you need cables.
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Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Colstrip, MT
rebocardo, what voltage should the alternator be providing to the battery? I remember reading a thread that stated 14.5 volts was a bit low for output from the alt to the battery. What is the magic voltage number?
The battery is sealed, so I can't check the fluid level.
The battery is sealed, so I can't check the fluid level.
Last edited by copper_90680; Nov 19, 2006 at 08:47 PM.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Southern California
Originally Posted by fatherdoug
rebocardo, what voltage should the alternator be providing to the battery? I remember reading a thread that stated 14.5 volts was a bit low for output from the alt to the battery. What is the magic voltage number?
The battery is sealed, so I can't check the fluid level.
The battery is sealed, so I can't check the fluid level.
