Know what I hate?
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,949
Likes: 1
From: utica il
know what i hate????
when my car decides it doesn't want to start and effs up my plans. battery is like 6 months old at most i believe. i'm guessing alternator but i'm not sure. i knew something was coming though as the last 3-4 times i started it i could tell it wasn't fully juiced.
so help me remember the old timer battery wire alternator check. something about removing the hot lead from the battery while running and if it dies the alternator is shot, right? can't remember if i'm remembering correctly or not.
when my car decides it doesn't want to start and effs up my plans. battery is like 6 months old at most i believe. i'm guessing alternator but i'm not sure. i knew something was coming though as the last 3-4 times i started it i could tell it wasn't fully juiced.
so help me remember the old timer battery wire alternator check. something about removing the hot lead from the battery while running and if it dies the alternator is shot, right? can't remember if i'm remembering correctly or not.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,609
Likes: 18
From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Quit doing that test Dan. Old cars, OK. Newer cars/trucks, it can do some damage.
BTW, if the pos cable is disconnected from the battery with the engine running it is an indication that the charging system is not putting out. May not be the "alternator is shot." Just that it is not charging. If the alternator is putting out the voltage may soar doing damage to electronic components.
BTW, if the pos cable is disconnected from the battery with the engine running it is an indication that the charging system is not putting out. May not be the "alternator is shot." Just that it is not charging. If the alternator is putting out the voltage may soar doing damage to electronic components.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,949
Likes: 1
From: utica il
bruce it's a junky 95 cavalier. i'd prefer to put as little time/money/effort into it as possible. i jumped it and let it run for 10-15 minutes and it fired after being shut off, so maybe i have a short or my battery is on it's way out early for some damn reason. i guarantee i forgot to keep the receipt or it was put in the glovebox and got thrown out during a clean up.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,609
Likes: 18
From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Here's a cheap check for you. Engine off, key off, doors shut, underhood light disconnected, Undo a battery cable, put a test light between the battery post and the cable end you just took off. If you have a light, there is a short draining your battery.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,949
Likes: 1
From: utica il
would that work the same for a dome or door light? i don't have an under hood light. it may have had one at some time, but not anymore. this is just a pos beater car i bought from a junkyard, so it's seen better days. had it for 2 years or so, but i go with the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" plan because i don't like to put cash into it if i don't have to.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 11,273
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From: North Dakota
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,949
Likes: 1
From: utica il
pawn yer stuff off on joe....
like i've said before, i don't do a whole hell of a lot of driving, maybe 2-300 miles on a busy week and generally 100 or less on average a week, but either way dropping down from 30ish mpg to 10ish is too mush of a drop for me. we're poor folk.
like i've said before, i don't do a whole hell of a lot of driving, maybe 2-300 miles on a busy week and generally 100 or less on average a week, but either way dropping down from 30ish mpg to 10ish is too mush of a drop for me. we're poor folk.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,481
Likes: 5,542
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
tom, i may have been a member since 2003 but i didn't start actively posting till 2009ish so the post per day count is way the hell off, obviously. i've repped maybe 5-10 people and generally i get the spread the wealth you don't have any to give line too when i try.
like i said, i'm not too worried about it because it really doesn't seem to mean anything since it's not often used in here. plus i gotz more squares than kris and dave so i feel warm and fuzzy inside already
like i said, i'm not too worried about it because it really doesn't seem to mean anything since it's not often used in here. plus i gotz more squares than kris and dave so i feel warm and fuzzy inside already
that is the captain morgan rum that is giving you the warm and fuzzys
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,255
Likes: 0
From: Sweet Home, OR
Look at how many posts Joe has............................'nuff said............
