battery drain? dead alt now too?

[kryptonitewhite 1]

I had an old Thunderbird I bought as a kid, every morning after I bought it I went to start it up for work but it was dead. I was a kid, no money to fix it, no skills on figuring out what was wrong or how to fix it. I got a new bettery thinkin it was OK. Next day i was late for work. Checked alternator, solenoid. Copuld not figure the thing out. One day I had to disconnect the power seat for something, problem went away.

For a few weeks now when I have gone to start the van, it seemed like it was low on juice. I have 3 AGM bateries, 2 of them huge 100aH. It's been on my mind, but was always hard to tell for sure if there was an issue.

Today i went to bring Brandy to work and it wouldnt start. Was all bt dead, would almost turn over, then click clikc click. I kept trying and trying, got it to start. Of course charging 3 giant batteries... most likely killed the $400 HO alt, it's running right now and volatage is below 14V

[djjdnap 78]

starter? if it has external solenoid.

or yeah u've been running on just batts for a while, but u shouldve noticed the batt gauge extra low?

Edited June 1, 2011 by djjdnap

[kryptonitewhite 1]

just happened over nite

busted out the DMM, rear batts were at 11.8V and front was at 11.9V usually theyre close to 13V.

Started it up, started at 13.11V and slowly kept climbing, now it's sitting at 13.6V running. It used to be close t0 15V running.

[shizzzon 461]

go to sears, buy u an agm duralast battery charger with following specs-

2A slow, 15A, 40A fast, 120A jumpstart.

They are around $90.

unhook ALL batts in the vehicle, power and ground, completely isolate them from ALL connections.

Charge each batt up separately.

At how low you say thet are, it should take AT LEAST 8hrs to charge each battery.

If any one of them takes lets say 3hrs or less at a rest of under 12v.. then it's damaged and u can prove this by measuring voltage at battery every 30min or having auto zone prove it to you.

Notice how i'm not advising auto zone to charge ur batts?

Everybody who uses extra batts in their vehicle needs their own battery charger as batts need to be charged every once in a while.. Preferrably once every 1-4 weeks is when i do mine, regardless of how much alternator power you have.

[kryptonitewhite 1]

go to sears, buy u an agm duralast battery charger with following specs-

2A slow, 15A, 40A fast, 120A jumpstart.

They are around $90.

unhook ALL batts in the vehicle, power and ground, completely isolate them from ALL connections.

Charge each batt up separately.

At how low you say thet are, it should take AT LEAST 8hrs to charge each battery.

If any one of them takes lets say 3hrs or less at a rest of under 12v.. then it's damaged and u can prove this by measuring voltage at battery every 30min or having auto zone prove it to you.

Notice how i'm not advising auto zone to charge ur batts?

Everybody who uses extra batts in their vehicle needs their own battery charger as batts need to be charged every once in a while.. Preferrably once every 1-4 weeks is when i do mine, regardless of how much alternator power you have.

sigh.. not the best news to hear right now, but if its gotta be done its gotta be done

sitting at 12.1 now after letting it sit for a bit.

[bassahaulic 155]

You have the oddest problems.

[kryptonitewhite 1]

You have the oddest problems.

yet somehow I overcome them and then some