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aaagh, batteries?

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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 10:07 AM
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srqdiesel chef's Avatar
srqdiesel chef
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From: Southwest Florida Coast
aaagh, batteries?

92 f250 7.3 na Ok,so I've checked glow plugs, they're good, bled the fuel system, cleaned corrosion off terminals,replaced fuses and I thought I killed the batteries because she's started cranking slow. When I checked voltage, I got 11++ from both of them.My wife is going to kill me if( )I don't get this truck running soon, She's started once since I bought her and I'm losing hair over this.on the good side my son thinks I bought a giant set of monkey bars with tires just for him.Thanks for any help you got
 
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 10:30 AM
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are you sure it the batteries?? it could be calbles or the starte, i had to replace the starter on my dads 7.3, if they turn slow then they wont build enough heat or compression to ignighte the fuel so it will be hard to start.
 
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 11:02 AM
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You might try pulling the starter and have it tested.
 
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 11:46 AM
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Sadly, if you go test it, it will test good, but I recommend going ahead and chaning the starter out, if the cables appear to be in good shape. I would also pull each battery off and get them individually tested. Also what amps are your batteries? I don't think anything under 850 amps will work, but I recommmend at least 1000 amps.
 
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 12:10 PM
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Originally Posted by srqdiesel chef
92 f250 7.3 na Ok,so I've checked glow plugs, they're good, bled the fuel system, cleaned corrosion off terminals,replaced fuses and I thought I killed the batteries because she's started cranking slow. When I checked voltage, I got 11++ from both of them.My wife is going to kill me if(:-blah )I don't get this truck running soon, She's started once since I bought her and I'm losing hair over this.:-banghead:-bangheadon the good side my son thinks I bought a giant set of monkey bars with tires just for him.Thanks for any help you got
You can`t do anything with just 11v at the batteries. You should have 12.5v. Charge them and then see. Good luck.
 
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 01:23 PM
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if you live somewere warm then 2 650 cranking amp batterys will crank it but if its a colder place then it will drain them quick, but my money would be on the starters going out
 
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 05:54 PM
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Inspect the passenger side positive battery terminal.
Is the insulation discolored?
Does it look like heat damage?
Is the cable swelled up close to the clamp?


My bet is battery cables.
Starter would be the second choice.

All power to and from the batteries goes through the passenger side positive battery teminal.
 
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 11:01 PM
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Side note, who has the passenger ground for these trucks? I asked around and no one has them. I believe mine causes me some grief on super cold mornings due to it being very swollen and cracked insulation close to the terminal, but no one has cable anywhere near this size.
 
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Old Jan 30, 2009 | 03:21 AM
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i had a small problem with my 7.3, as it turns out my batteries and starter were both good, it was my alternator. someone had pulled one out of a junkyard to replace one that went bad, and they pulled it off an F250 w/ the 6.9L. i guess it just didnt have enough umph to charge the 2 batteries on the 7.3, they looked almost identicle, but one was smaller than the other. i put a new alt on there and the batteries were charging to 12.5 in no time
 
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Old Jan 30, 2009 | 07:10 AM
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srqdiesel chef's Avatar
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Batteries are charged up to 12.25,checked the cables,I Think they are original! What should I look for on my meter at the starter when cranking?
Is motorcraft the only place that carries these cables?

This thing called work keeps me from doing what I really want.
 
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Old Jan 30, 2009 | 04:24 PM
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If you have a NAPA close by, they can probably make the cables for you.

Stock size is 2/0 for the grounds, and the passenger side also has a #4 in the lower terminal that goes over and grounds the frame.

Positive cable is 2/0 from the drivers side to the passenger side, the 3/0 from the passenger side battery to the starter.

There is also a #4 wire in the passenger side clamp that goes to the starter relay or the glow plug relay on the 6.9 engine.

Alternators can be bought in amperages from 60 to 150 as a direct bolt in replacement.
Has nothing to do with 6.9 or 7.3, more like someone got the cheapest thing they could get.

60 amp 44.95
150 amp 231 dollars
 
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