Battery or Alternator????????????
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Junior User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 68
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From: NE IOWA
Battery or Alternator????????????
Hi Guys,
I drove my truck for about 20 minutes yesterday, did what I needed to do and went to leave and it wouldn't start because battery was run down.
I jumped it, took it home and hooked it up to the voltmeter. It read 14.5 at idle. I turned on the lights, heater, wipers.... and the voltage dropped to 12.5-13. Turn that stuff off and it climbs back to 14.5.
Based on that info. would you think battery or alternator???
Thanks, Steve
I drove my truck for about 20 minutes yesterday, did what I needed to do and went to leave and it wouldn't start because battery was run down.
I jumped it, took it home and hooked it up to the voltmeter. It read 14.5 at idle. I turned on the lights, heater, wipers.... and the voltage dropped to 12.5-13. Turn that stuff off and it climbs back to 14.5.
Based on that info. would you think battery or alternator???
Thanks, Steve
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 805
Likes: 3
An open cell in a battery can give you those symptoms. I had one that would crank my car just fine one day, then barely turn it over the next. As the weather got colder, it finally bit the bullet. Any major parts house can test your alternator or regulator. Have 'em checked. If they come back good, that narrows it down pretty quick to a battery.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 614
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From: Pensacola, FL
i had that problem with my car, sometimes it would fire right up, then sometimes it would drag and barely crank. it was half out of water so i filled it back up and it helped, but at that point it was pretty well gone, bought a new one and fixed problem. my volts were over 14 and down to 13 with lights on. i'd suggest you just buy another battery and pay a little extra for higher cranking amps.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 335
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From: riverton u.s
Sounds like the batt'tree to me. If the parts store isnt close then bring out the volt meter and check the output on the alt. if its throwing good volts to the batt'tree then you dont have to pull the belt and 2 bolts just a couple cables and out with the old in with the new.
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 68
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From: NE IOWA
I tested the battery today, after trickle charge overnight. It seems fine? I just used a cheap load tester. It seems to me that you can't get a 100% clear answer from a load tester. How do the pros check batteries?
Also, I'm not sure which wires to check at the alt. with voltmeter???
Also, I'm not sure which wires to check at the alt. with voltmeter???
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,448
Likes: 5,518
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
you need a load tester to properly test the alternator. it may be putting out 14.5 volts, but only 1 amp.
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New User
Joined: Feb 2007
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another
You could also use a voltmeter on your battery, when it's sitting there with nothing hooked up you should get a reading of 13.5 Volts. Anything under 12 is a bad battery.
Also like most electrical problems with a car always check your Negative battery cable or ground, if it's bad or loose and you don't have proper ground your battery wont work right or recharge correctly.
-=D
Also like most electrical problems with a car always check your Negative battery cable or ground, if it's bad or loose and you don't have proper ground your battery wont work right or recharge correctly.
-=D
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