Battery Death
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, NY
Battery Death
I installed a new sound system in my truck last week. I killed the batteries a couple of times in the proses. Ever since the batteries would die real easy. A couple of nights ago I turned on the headlights for just a minute so I could find something in my garage and of course in would not start after having the lights on for just a minuet. Yesterday at work I had the radio on for a minute or two and when I was going to go home for lunch the battery was dead. Looks like it is time for a new battery but how do I test to make sure it is not the alternator? Any opinions on die hard batteries?
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,903
Likes: 1
From: MICHIGAN
How old are they?
Have you put a 1-2 amp charger on the batteries over night?
Checked the water and connections?
You can check the alternator with a volt meter. Get it running, turn on everything electrical, @ idle you should have 13 volts or higher measured across the battery terminals check both of them.
After they are fully charged, Have them load tested, the battery cables need to come off for this....
Have you put a 1-2 amp charger on the batteries over night?
Checked the water and connections?
You can check the alternator with a volt meter. Get it running, turn on everything electrical, @ idle you should have 13 volts or higher measured across the battery terminals check both of them.
After they are fully charged, Have them load tested, the battery cables need to come off for this....
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,903
Likes: 1
From: MICHIGAN
An current draw of anything higher than .05 amps is too much.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 17,799
Likes: 103
From: Ashland City, TN
yea, charging you should get 13+ on the voltmeter.
if you kill the battery and dont get a good recharge on it, then you will have the problems your having.
make sure to check the acid on them to make sure you didn't boil the batteries.
If they are really low, make sure you fill them up with acid or distilled water like your supposto. =)
if you kill the battery and dont get a good recharge on it, then you will have the problems your having.
make sure to check the acid on them to make sure you didn't boil the batteries.
If they are really low, make sure you fill them up with acid or distilled water like your supposto. =)
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Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,795
Likes: 1
From: Rogue River, OR
yea, charging you should get 13+ on the voltmeter.
if you kill the battery and dont get a good recharge on it, then you will have the problems your having.
make sure to check the acid on them to make sure you didn't boil the batteries.
If they are really low, make sure you fill them up with acid or distilled water like your supposto. =)
if you kill the battery and dont get a good recharge on it, then you will have the problems your having.
make sure to check the acid on them to make sure you didn't boil the batteries.
If they are really low, make sure you fill them up with acid or distilled water like your supposto. =)
Adding acid is a NO NO.
Just add distilled water.Rog
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,756
Likes: 38
From: Nampa, ID
If you or someon you know has access to CostCo, I'd suggest looking at their Kirkland batteries. I bought two a few years ago ($55 each, $110 total, and a $5 rebate for each battery when I recycled my old batteries) and have had no problems with them.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Long Island, NY
Cant seem to add anything. Cant get the caps off. Not sure if they are supposed to come off. The battery says maintenance free on it.
Anyone know if these caps come off?
Anyone know if these caps come off?
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, NY
How old are they?
Have you put a 1-2 amp charger on the batteries over night?
Checked the water and connections?
You can check the alternator with a volt meter. Get it running, turn on everything electrical, @ idle you should have 13 volts or higher measured across the battery terminals check both of them.
After they are fully charged, Have them load tested, the battery cables need to come off for this....
Have you put a 1-2 amp charger on the batteries over night?
Checked the water and connections?
You can check the alternator with a volt meter. Get it running, turn on everything electrical, @ idle you should have 13 volts or higher measured across the battery terminals check both of them.
After they are fully charged, Have them load tested, the battery cables need to come off for this....
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, NY
Jut removed both cables to test for current draw both were pretty clean but scrubbed them all anyway. Unfortunately the Radio Crap meter I have only reads mA which is milliamp which = .001 of a amp. When I hook up the meter to the + of the batt a + cable it will spike to the max for a second then drop down to 15. Since I suck at math I am guessing this is .015 mA and should be way below .05. Any one know if this is right?
