03-10-2004, 08:35 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 42
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Quote:
Originally posted by Gilly
Sounds more like the battery to me, but it sounds like a tough one, and without being able to do some tests of my own, it's all speculation.
I like the voltage reading you're getting. In relation to this and what John said he had going on, the voltage output should be 13.8 to 14.2v. What John had was 13.7. This is very important, 13.7 isn't correct and should have been caught early on and the regulator brushes inspected. It wouldn't hurt on Kimmys car to at least take a look at the brushes, but I'm fairly convinced there is a problem with the battery which may even be an intermittent open circuit in the battery, or some other manufacturing concern (not filled up with electrolyte?). But it's possible it may pass a battery test at times, not 100% sure, but I would still "best guess" it's the battery. Someone already pointed out if it were the alternator, that the car should eventually die, needs sufficient electrical power to run the ignition and fuel pump/s. Although possibly the regulator is putting out correct voltage, but a problem with the alternator itself, not putting out sufficient amps? Any electrical engineers out here, does that sound feasable? A proper charging system test should be done, but first I'd closely scrutinize the battery. There isn't anything I can think of that would deplete the battery (to the point you'd need a jumpstart) in 15 or so minutes, at least nothing you wouldn't notice. A trunklight bulb, clock, radio, etc doesn't deplete a battery in 15 minutes folks. Maybe the starter would (sure, 15 minutes of starter operation, yeah you can't do that for 15 minutes without killing the battery, maybe the headlights, which is generally considered the 2nd largest electrical consumer, but should still last 15 minutes on a good battery).
Gilly,
If you go back and read my post, I gave it some closer thought and I changed what I had said about the 15 minute thing. The reason I said that was because I had been letting the car run in the driveway for a long time thinking was getting charged and after I turned it off, it wouldn't start back up again. But I have since learned that was not giving me a charge. Actually yesterday after driving her only 7 miles, it got turned off for 15 min. or so and started up again. Then after 3 hours of around town I parked her and kept going out to see exactly how long it would take for her to drain. She started 1 hour after, even started 6 hours after. Then I disconnected the + cable (I did not see your post until this morning about disconnecting the - one first. My bad. I was carefull not to touch anything though, and I did not get hurt. (Can you clear this + and - thing up for me please. I always wonder if I am jumping correctly and hold my breath every time I do anything with the battery. I HATE IT, I guess we fear the unknown.) Anyway, can you check out the post I placed with results of this mornings findings? Thanks, and please don't give up on me guys. I know you can figure this one out.
Kimm
Gilly
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