Battery problems

[Kadahaf]

My 95 has been a pain with batteries. I got it with an old POS 1997 battery, and after it would not crank because it would drain somehow. I could jump it, but I could not really restart it without letting it run long. I not have a new battery (everlast) and I've been running this battery for a month and a half. This morning my car would not crank. I had 1/4 charge on the gague. I always turn my stuff off and I parked it during the day (so lights are not the cause). This is the first time it did not crank since I got this new battery. Anything I should be looking for when determining the problem?

 

[ExplorerDMB]

So you bought a Neverlast huh? Well, first off go here:

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1330443

Once you go there and you can't figure out the problem - check your alternator. Make sure it's putting out the current it should be putting out. A decent way of checking is seeing if you have 14 or so volts at the battery while running. Do NOT go by the instrument cluster gauge. Who knows how accurate that thing is. Good luck

-Drew

 

[Kadahaf]

Thanks, Ill check that. I'm not at my house right now so I can't update for a couple hours. But Il get on this topic and update.

 

[Kadahaf]

well we got it to run fine after we fiddled with the engine compartment and inside fuses. it cranks and runs perfect. the first time I cranked it (and 3 times after that) I got check engine and the battery lights on my cluster. but now it seems to be fine what should I do?

 

[410Fortune]

check that the alternator is putting out 14.4V at idle.

Sounds like a wiring issue to me

Search this forum for battery cables

Also take a good look at your alternator connections, the plugs get old and brittle, etc can cause all sorts of nightmares.

 

[Kadahaf]

Ill check my alternator tomorrow for the proper volts. From what I could see the cables looked alright. I also had a look at the solonoid/starter motor it seems fine.

 

[Kadahaf]

I don't know if this would help, but it happened this morning again. I think it's the cold. I tried to screw with the fuses but nothing. I was pissed that nothing I tried worked till I held the key in the start posisition for 10 seconds then finally it turned over. Every time after that it started fine the first second I turned the key.

 

[Mbrooks420]

You can't visually tell when the cables go bad, they corrode from the inside out. If you can test the resistance(ohms) from one end of the cable to the other.

 

[Kadahaf]

Do you think my problems is directly related to the cables?

 

[Mbrooks420]

It's possible. How old is the battery that is in there? Do you have access to a multimeter?

 

[Kadahaf]

1 and 1/2 months and yes

Ill have to find it now

 

[aldive]

Make sure it's putting out the current it should be putting out. A decent way of checking is seeing if you have 14 or so volts at the battery while running. Do NOT go by the instrument cluster gauge. Who knows how accurate that thing is. Good luck

-Drew

Actually you should the alternator output at the alternator ( B + terminal ) not the battery. If the voltage is low at the battery you could have a good alternator and just have faulty wiring.