So I just got home from vacation and popped into the firehouse to see the old 41 and take it for a spin. Well after a few cranks it wouldn't start then the battery was dead. I was able to jump it and she was running strong. Let it run for a few minutes, shut it down and BAM dead again. This thing would start every 1 to 2 days with no problems....it was only started once in two weeks while I was gone.

So I threw it on a 6v charger (all I have, but it has an 8v battery in it) and was able to fire it up a few hours later. I decided to take it out for a drive and scope out a new storage unit where it will sit when not used. Everything was going well, but it felt real sluggish when I put the pedal to the floor. I made it to the storage place and found out it would not fit and went to leave when it died.

I called a buddy who helped me get it running again and it died 3 more times on a 1 mile drive back to the firehouse.

What I'm wondering is could a deeply discharged battery cause the engine to die while driving? If I get it charged back up to where it needs to be and keep the cables off it when not being driven might I be ok?

I would love to tear into the charging system, but don't really have that much time or skill/patience. I don't know what to do at this point, but would love to get it out to a parade this weekend and next....I'm freakin frustrated with it.

 

Disconnect one of the batt cables while it is running at a fast idle. If it dies than the charge system is bad. If it keep running than I would suspect the battery is bad.

 

Ok, I'll give that a shot tomorrow. Thanks.

 

Well, I tried what you said and it died. A mechanic a at local shop said that was an old wifes tale....but who knows. One of the owners there has been working on this truck for nearly 50 years now and asked that I bring it in on Monday morning....hopefully it can make it the 1 mile up the road.

I do have the battery charging right now and has been all day long. There is a parade a few miles away and I think I might try and get it down there if the battery can hold out, but I suspect the points may be shot because of how it kept dieing.