Yesterday morning i was leaving for work and i went to start my truck and it would not start, all i could hear was the ignition after about 5 times i got it going and went to work not really thinking much about it. I got off 4 hours later and tried to start up and all tat would happen is a loud fast clicking noise. I just turn on the key and look at the volt meter and i see that the battery is really low. I get a jump and go home and charge my battery. This is around 2:30 - 3:00ish. Anyway i fully charge the battery and the truck starts up fine and runs fine all day. Later that night im with a friend and i pull over for a bit(20-30 minutes or so) then when i try to start the car, it just clicks again and doesn't start. I get a friend to jump me and i drive around for another hour or so hoping the alternator will give me a little charge. Today i wake up and try to leave and there was no clicking, there was no anything the battery was completely dead. any ideas?
2007-07-12 12:12:03 · 10 answers · asked by WTF? 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Heres a couple things that might help...
Pulled off batery caps the water level is fine.
Volt meter in car reads 14v when car is running
When car is off but key is on volt meter reads around 6-9v
Im thinking its the battery
2007-07-12 12:23:46 · update #1
Dear Battery Death-
The battery is a history lesson. If you are seeing 14+ volts across the terminals when the engine is running then your alternator is doing its job.
Batteries are a ticking time bomb waiting to leave you stranded and the most inopportune moments. The average battery should be replaced about every three years. that is really about the best portion of their reliable lifespan.
Yes I have heard of and seen batteries that have lasted longer than that, but this is because the owners of the vehicles took maticulus care of their cars. This included cleaning the battery terminals and keeping the corrosion from building up.
The corrosion on the terminals is actually a killer of batteries, ans will shorten their lifespan by half if left unchecked.
So if you will allow me to take a couple of minutes, let me give you a few trade secrets to help you care for that battery.
About once a month lift the hood of your car and have a really good look around. I do this when I fill up with gas. I let the pump do the pumping and I get a rag and start checking!
If I see something that looks out of place, I make a quick note to see that it gets taken care of before it turns into a problem. IE: Battery Cable Corrosion, (The Green or White FUZZ).
This creates a resistance point for your charging system. This means the battery has to provide more amperage to operate your cars systems until the alternator can take over after the engine is running. But this also means the alternator has to generate more voltage and amperage to overcome the resistance to get you battery fully charged.
This added load creates heat. Heat is the part that kills the battery and the alternator. Normally the battery will give up first. Especially if the car is only driven for short distances, (to work and home).
This means the battery never has time to fully charge until you hit the highway and the engine is running for 10+ minutes.
So with this added resistance the battery finally just gives up and dies. This happens because the lead plates in the battery warp from the heat and one of the cells shorts to ground, (dead cell). So 12 volts just turned to 9 volts.
This time when you replace your battery, be sure to clean the battery tray, cables and hold down clamp.
Use Baking Soda and Water in a mixture an with an old paint bruch apply this to the area where the battery wil be sitting. Please be sure to place your new battery well out of the area where you are cleaning. The baking soda and water mixture will nuetralize any remaining acid in the area being cleaned. It will also neutralize your new battery, so keep this material well clear of your new battery. Next rinse the area with plain clean water until all of the foam has gone away. Then dry the area.
The cables will need the same treatment if they are still in serviceable condition. If not you will need to replace them with new cables. Do not purchase the terminal replacements. Those are a very bad choice, as the bare copper wire acts like a candle wick ans any acid that is vented from your battery during charging will use this path to destroy the cable further down.
Once you have purchased your new battery, and have it properly installed in the battery tray, you will need to clean the terminals on the battery. There is a release agent that is applied at the factory to keep the lead terminals from corroding while the batteries are being shipped to their retail locations for sales. The lead terminals when cleaned properly should be shiny.
The cable teminals will also need to be cleaned.
After installation, you should use a corrosion inhibitor. This is a product that is available from Permatex and can be purchased at Auto Zone, Kragen, Pepboys or any of the parts stores in your area.
I think it is called Permatex Battery Terminal Protectant. But I cannot remember. The counter man should know what you are asking for.
This is a red or purple spray that is applied directly to the battery terminals and forms a seal against acid, rain, car washes, ect.
After doing this you should be good to go!
I hope that helped you out.
2007-07-12 13:38:01 · answer #1 · answered by Teknoman Saber 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you've got "14V. running" the alternator is working.
"6-9V." Means the battery is dead or in deep discharge.
Before you rush out & buy a new battery though, check with a hand held meter at the battery terminals while running to see that the charge is going to the battery.
It's a long shot, but there just might be a fault in the system other than the alternator.
2007-07-12 13:05:37 · answer #2 · answered by Irv S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like the battery is fine as it works when you charge it.
After you get it charged and the car running, put a a voltmeter across your battery and it probably the voltage regulator. If it just reads about 12 volts, you're just reading the battery but if (esp when you rev the motor) it reads closer to 14volts, the alternator is putting out and it's probably the battery.
The link below is for a Honda but the tips should work for most cars
2007-07-12 12:19:11 · answer #3 · answered by Dan Bueno 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably need a new battery...if the car is started, disconnect the battery cable to check the alternator...if the car dies, there is probably a problem with the alternator...hope this helps
2007-07-12 12:21:42 · answer #4 · answered by Carolyn R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1
2017-03-05 05:54:57 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
check the connection to the battery and alternator one of the wires to either could be lose if it was the alternator no way you could drive for an hour
2007-07-12 12:48:07 · answer #6 · answered by anthentherwasi 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If charging system voltage is 14v, the battery is scrap. Replace it and no more trouble.
2007-07-12 12:26:52 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
charge the battery start the car remove negative cable if the car dies its the alternator.
2007-07-12 12:18:33 · answer #8 · answered by josh m 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Defective battery, too old or bad cell(s).
Easy to test just take it to a Autozone or other auto parts store, they usually test for free.
2007-07-12 12:20:55 · answer #9 · answered by izzie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
WHAT TEKKAMAN SAID, AND WHERE DID YOU FIND A 4 HR A DAY JOB?JK
2007-07-12 16:21:17 · answer #10 · answered by Michael A 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋