My Wife complained that the Car would not Start.

When I checked I got that dreaded Solenoid Click and no Cranking. Another, one of those it worked the day before but not the next Morning.
I checked the Battery Voltage with My Harbor Freight Digital Volt/Ohm Meter and it 12.5 Volts; appearing to be fully charged.

Test Time:
I had My Wife try to start while I kept the Volt Meter applied to the Battery and found that when the Key was turned to start the Battery Voltage dropped to 2 Volts!
That is an indication that the Battery itself is shot and not carrying the load or there was a short in the Electrical System.

A Short Circuit is less likely because shorts often burn something and becomes an Open Circuit.

I have some extra Batteries from the Electric Wheel Chair I had from when My Hip was Broken. They are 1 year old.
In order to connect the Wheel Chair Battery I had to changed the Ground Cable to a longer one because Battery Terminals are opposite of the big Bosch Battery that was in the Car.

Well the Wheel Chair Battery worked and the Car has been starting and charging normally for over 1 Week now; so the Bosch Batter must had died.

But, strangely My max charging Voltage for 5+ years has never been over 13.7 Volts.
Now My charging Voltage is 14.4 Volts!

My best guess on this is that the old Ground Cable must have had some resistance issues.
I say that is because about 3 months ago I had cleaned the Cable to Chassis Contact area and Battery Terminals and I did not get more than the 13.7 Volts max I always had; so I don’t think the Voltage went up due to me cleaning the contact again when I installed the New Cable.
　
　
　

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Output will vary depending on battery condition and state of charge. I have seen everything from 13.2 to 15.0 VDC on my 300SD over the years....

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Did you just pass my 740 at 200 kmh in a 300SD?????

1978 300SD 'Phil' - 1,315,853 Miles And Counting - 1, 317,885 as of 12/27/2012 - 1,333,000 as of 05/10/2013, 1,337,850 as of July 15, 2013, 1,339,000 as of August 13, 2013



100,000 miles since June 2005 Overhaul - Sold January 25th, 2014 After 1,344,246 Miles & 20 Years of Ownership

Indeed but for 1 year I drove around with one of those Digital Volt Meters that plugs into the Cigar Lighter and I previously never had the Charging Voltage go above 13.7 Volts.
The Same when I once in awhile tested the Voltage under the Hood with the Volt Ohm Meter.

So I was surprised when the higher Voltage showed up.

My AC and Widow Defogger don't work and the Radio, Heater/Defroster or Plug in Fan, and Lights are the only Electrical loads I normally have during driving.

At some point I might change the + Cable and see if that has any + effect on the charging Voltage.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Hmmmm,

Interesting!

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Did you just pass my 740 at 200 kmh in a 300SD?????

1978 300SD 'Phil' - 1,315,853 Miles And Counting - 1, 317,885 as of 12/27/2012 - 1,333,000 as of 05/10/2013, 1,337,850 as of July 15, 2013, 1,339,000 as of August 13, 2013



100,000 miles since June 2005 Overhaul - Sold January 25th, 2014 After 1,344,246 Miles & 20 Years of Ownership

I ran extra ground from battery and increased my charge to 14.5.Its when charging says up near 16,its time for regulator.

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

the regulators in our alternators are set to 14.1 so 14.4 is an abnormality. I think your regulator is failing, check the a/c voltage and report back, also, what kind of batteries were in your wheelchair? AGM? Lead Acid? Lithium Ion? NiCa? that'll have an impact on things as well...

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

This is all the info I have on the Battery.
Die Hard C14
695 CCA 34
30034

I belever the Bosch Battery was an 850 CCA Battery.

I don't have to worry about cold Winter Starting here in CA where I live.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel