I recently bought a battery thinking it was dead. I installed it and immediately I noticed the high / low battery needle on the dashboard was pointing more toward the low than high. Isn't it supposed to be in the middle? This new battery lasted two days before going dead. About eight starts. The little battery light near the speedometer is not coming on. This indicates the charging system is not good. So I guess my alternator is working. My battery cables are in poor shape. They are very worn at the connections to the battery and I am using vise grips with shims aeound the posts to keep them on. Could these bad cables be preventing my battery from getting a good charge as I drive?
Steve
2007-05-30 13:48:06 · 8 answers · asked by STEVE T 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Get new cables, worn one can cause problems with the charging system. Don't "guess" your alternator is working, if your battery isn't charging, the cables, the voltage regulator, and the Alternator have your highest chances of being whats wrong. Ignore the wise guy who says to replace your vise grips....seriously...hes "less than adequately educated". You need good cables and solid connections for proper operating of the starting and charging system.
2007-05-30 14:25:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well now the technical side of electricity. A GOOD battery will be fully charged off the shelf, that is a fact not a wives tale. the only true way to check the battery charge is by checking the specific gravity of the battery. on the tester the proper reading is 1.285 in ALL six cells. next.... GOOD GRIEF MAN BUY SOME DARN BATTERY CABLESWITH ENDS. good lord. NEXT check the alternator. in all honesty start with the battery cables and give Jackleg Shadetree back his visegrips. with all that high resisance in those connections its no wonder the battery wont charge. again, good lord.
2007-05-30 14:30:38 · answer #2 · answered by skid 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get new cables or at least new terminals to the battery and have the alternator tested for proper output at a parts store...should be around 13.5-14.5 volts. Low output or bad connections are why the battery is not charging.
2007-05-30 13:53:51 · answer #3 · answered by paul h 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Look try this to see if the alternator is bad. Start the car (jumpstart if you have to) once the car is started disconnect the black cable from the battery ( it wont shock you) If the car keeps on running then you can rule out the alternator.
2007-05-30 14:00:21 · answer #4 · answered by Matthew D 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Battery could have A Bad Cell.
2016-05-17 08:28:22 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
spend the money and buy some new cables. most auto parts stores now a days will check your system for free but replace the cables
2007-05-30 13:52:45 · answer #6 · answered by richard g 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
your cables could be worn out, but you might need to replace your alternator
2007-05-30 13:58:30 · answer #7 · answered by shefixescars 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes bad terminals- check the alt. too at any advance or autozone- but you will need to change these cables if needed! not too costly and u can do it too!
2007-05-30 13:55:09 · answer #8 · answered by T J 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋