Battery/Alternator issue? Help.

[storlied]

Alright, so I just went to the store for ice cream. (I'm awesome as giving facts that don't matter at all in my stories..lol)
Anyways, headlights and all the dash lights were kinda dim, then I noticed the battery gauge was pretty low(Almost at the line above the L). Radar detector said 11v or so, and it even dipped down to 10v while driving to the store, but reported 12 while the truck was shut off. It's -30 out, had the truck plugged in for about an hour, after not having it plugged in for 3-4 hours since the truck was last running. It had a little trouble starting up after coming out of the store (longer than usual) After a little while of driving, everything went back to it's normal brightness and the battery level went back to normal. But the radar reported 13-14v. What do you guys think is going on? Someone told me the battery was just cold. I've started it up and driven in colder (-45) without it being plugged in for days and I've never had a problem like this.

 

[Donner]

ice cream at -30, lol! Only in Alaska

well, i guess that's the same as Starbux coffee when it's 80 degrees, no? What batt do you have?

My battery just stopped last night. I had to make a Sears run. It was pretty cold yesterday (55 degrees), and after that, the batt stopped. I hear it's a faulty cell.

 

[storlied]

Brand new battery, I don't know what brand... =\

 

[Donner]

Same here... brand new.

 

[storlied]

Hm.. this is the first and only time its happened.. we'll see what happens later today..

 

[Willard]

I wouldn't worry about it unless it happens more. Batteries can do strange things at those temperatures....

 

[storlied]

Yea..

 

[storlied]

Alright, I'm pissed now. Car won't start, battery is dead. Radar detector shows 10-11 volts when the car is off, gauge reads really low. When I try starting it, radar detector beeps and says low voltage and I get nothing but clicks.. Help!!

 

[storlied]

The car did start initially via autostart but when I went outside, it was idling all over the place, and then it died soon after getting in.

 

[Donner]

take it back... mine was just faulty, not the quality that caused it. but i went back to the previous brand.

 

[storlied]

I've had it for a few months now and I have no proof of purchase anymore... ARG! What do I do to get this thing started?

 

[storlied]

Got it started, battery gauge reads low.. I'm going to go for a drive and maybe it'll recharge more..

 

[hunterdan]

I am guessing you are keeping it hooked to a charger to prevent the battery from freezing. My guess is that your alternator is going, especially since it started up fine, but then died and now your battery is reading below 12 volts. If you manage to get it started, have the alternator checked out. You may or may not be able to charge the battery again, depends on how far down it has been drained.

Dan

 

[storlied]

Went outside, got in the truck... rpm meter reads 0, truck is still running.. radar showing 10v... I shut it off, back to where I began, won't start..

WTF!!

 

[storlied]

How much are alternators?... This sucks... this really sucks...

So you don't think the battery is f*cked? It still has power, it's just when I do anything power consuming it dies down.

 

[storlied]

Do you think this will fix itself when it gets warmer out? This is bs.. It seems to get more voltage and start up better when it's plugged in, but the moment I unplug it.. it dies and voltage drops... (heating pad) Do you think the battery is just too cold n that's all it is?... I don't understand any of this...

 

[hunterdan]

If you can get the battery on a slow charger over night you might be able to save it. You can probably pick up an alternator for $150 or so. They will probably charge you for a core charge if you dont drop the old one off when you buy the new one.

Dan

 

[storlied]

Someone said it might be the "voltage regulator" what is that, and where is it? is it part of the alternator?

 

[Donner]

How?

I am guessing you are keeping it hooked to a charger to prevent the battery from freezing. My guess is that your alternator is going, especially since it started up fine, but then died and now your battery is reading below 12 volts. If you manage to get it started, have the alternator checked out. You may or may not be able to charge the battery again, depends on how far down it has been drained.

Dan

Can Autozone check the alt? My dealer is closed now... thanks!

 

[hunterdan]

Yeah, they should have a machine that can do it. It should also be a free service.

Dan