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Need automotive help
I need some help from my automotive gurus out there. I'm good a repairs, but not so good on electrical diagnostics.
I'm having charging problems. Last three days, I've noticed the meter in my dash showing lower voltage than normal, but the truck started and ran fine. This morning the truck started o.k. but the meter was now near the bottom of the normal range.
I needed a jump start after 3.5 mile drive. I then needed a jump start after a 13 mile drive. I almost made it the 10 miles home when I started losing engine power. Luckily I can coast down a big hill and have enough energy to go up another hill and coast into the driveway.
First. Does the meter in the dash read state of the battery or the output of the alternator?
Second. If it meters the battery, and based on losing power on the way home, does this sound like an alternator problem? Was I running the ignition off battery power only on the way home? If I understand correctly, the battery is primarily there to power the starter and ignition at start. After the engine starts, the alternator powers the electrical system as well as charging the battery.
It would be nice to figure this out before heading to the automotive store in the morning. My neighbors won't be home, and it's 20+ miles round trip on the bicycle. Nice to know exactly what I'm after and not spend money on both when I need just the one part.
Thanks
I'm having charging problems. Last three days, I've noticed the meter in my dash showing lower voltage than normal, but the truck started and ran fine. This morning the truck started o.k. but the meter was now near the bottom of the normal range.
I needed a jump start after 3.5 mile drive. I then needed a jump start after a 13 mile drive. I almost made it the 10 miles home when I started losing engine power. Luckily I can coast down a big hill and have enough energy to go up another hill and coast into the driveway.
First. Does the meter in the dash read state of the battery or the output of the alternator?
Second. If it meters the battery, and based on losing power on the way home, does this sound like an alternator problem? Was I running the ignition off battery power only on the way home? If I understand correctly, the battery is primarily there to power the starter and ignition at start. After the engine starts, the alternator powers the electrical system as well as charging the battery.
It would be nice to figure this out before heading to the automotive store in the morning. My neighbors won't be home, and it's 20+ miles round trip on the bicycle. Nice to know exactly what I'm after and not spend money on both when I need just the one part.
Thanks
"We have to find someone who can not only fly this plane, but who didn't have fish for dinner."
Crooow:This music would work better with women in bikinis shaking all over the place. I guess that's true of any music really.
Crooow:This music would work better with women in bikinis shaking all over the place. I guess that's true of any music really.
Replies
Hook up a volt meter to the battery. Start the vehicle and turn on all of the accessories headlights, air conditioner then check the battery voltage it should be around 13.5 - 14.5. It sure sounds like the alternator is dying.
Mike
Good luck!
Thanks Buford. I'll have to wait till tomorrow morning to do the check. The battery is dead and it'll take awhile for my charger to bring it up enough just to start the truck. Do I put the leads to the tester on the cable ends?
Mike. The cables had minor corrosion, but they were clean on the inside where they contact the posts. I picked up some noco spray.
Crooow:This music would work better with women in bikinis shaking all over the place. I guess that's true of any music really.
Also check your serpentine belt to make sure its not slipping..
Mike
Crooow:This music would work better with women in bikinis shaking all over the place. I guess that's true of any music really.
Mike
That was what I was thinking.
Crooow:This music would work better with women in bikinis shaking all over the place. I guess that's true of any music really.
I also spun the alt. by hand, after the belt was removed. It does make a bit of noise, but turns smoothly and the shaft seems tight. The noise sounds like bearings that aren't lubed well.
Crooow:This music would work better with women in bikinis shaking all over the place. I guess that's true of any music really.
Sometime I'll post the recent saga of my battery problems on the Highlander--it's a hairpuller.
Jim
Crooow:This music would work better with women in bikinis shaking all over the place. I guess that's true of any music really.
Did you ride in and pick up a new one?
No stores open around here on Sunday. Charged the battery partially and it is reading 11 or 12V. The display on analogue tester is hard to read on some scales.
Crooow:This music would work better with women in bikinis shaking all over the place. I guess that's true of any music really.
Crooow:This music would work better with women in bikinis shaking all over the place. I guess that's true of any music really.
Next you are gonna say you can't buy booze on a Sunday either (but hey until a few years ago we couldn't here either, and car dealerships are still closed on Sundays).
Hope on the full charge you can make it into the parts store ok.
Crooow:This music would work better with women in bikinis shaking all over the place. I guess that's true of any music really.
Crooow:This music would work better with women in bikinis shaking all over the place. I guess that's true of any music really.
Mike
Is this from a Subaru Manual??
Mike
What does any of this have to do with the KKK church state cops burning the constitution?
Seriously, that is outdated advice. Use George Washington as a gauge, not Abe. For real.
George Will