|
Re: we just had a storm here in s.f and my car...PART NUMERO DOS
On 4 Apr 2005 21:48:34 -0400, jaimeworking
<UseLinkToEmail@AutoForumz.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>so, this morning i went to look at the truck to make sure it’s ok and
>not towed or spray painted on; or something like that. So, this
>morning i tried to start the truck but it just wouldn’t start, it
>wasn’t turning at all, and it sounded like it was the battery. i
>didn’t have jumper cables and no one was stopping to help me so i just
>left it parked there again. so, i went to work then came back this
>afternoon, the truck starteted and there it was, started on the second
>try. WOOHOO!! Yeah! i was sooo happy, so i said to myself, i better
>drive home and park it just in case of something, well good thing i
>thought that because once i had it parked, i tried to start it up
>again and it was turning but the engine wasn’t going and something was
>sounding in the engine like a small machine gun sound. what do you
>think it is?[/color]
Alternator failure would be the first guess, followed by a weak
battery - did you see any warning lights on the dashboard come on?
You got the truck to start this morning because of the "surface
charge" effect, where a discharged battery sits overnight and can
build up enough current for one good burst of power, and then it fades
fast - if you can get the engine started on the "first pull" you're
golden, otherwise you won't get a second chance.
The "machine gun sound" would be the starter solenoid chattering as
it tries to pull in and start the engine, but there's not enough
current available from the battery to do it.
First, if the battery is over 5 years old or more than a year past
it's warranty date, it's probably gone. They die simply from time.
Go spend $20 on a decent digital voltmeter, and another $25 on a
decent 10-amp battery charger. First, hook up the battery charger and
get the battery back up to a full charge overnight, so you have a
known starting point.
Then take a simple digital voltmeter and watch the voltage on the
battery. With the charger disconnected and no loads (like the dome
light) on, it should hold at about 12.5 volts fully charged. Then put
on a light load like the tail lights and the battery should not drop
below 11.5 volts, if it does the battery is probably dead or dying.
When you go to crank the car to start it, the battery voltage should
not drop below 10 volts during a normal start.
And when you get the engine started, the alternator should be
putting out 13.5 to 13.8 volts to charge the battery, depending on the
outside temperature. (Hotter will be higher.) With the engine at
idle and the headlights on, it can dip to the 12 to 13 volt range, but
the voltage should pop right back up above 13.5V if you give the
engine a little gas.
Try all this and tell us what happens.
--<< Bruce >>--
--
Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
Spamtrapped address: Remove the python and the invalid, and use a net.
|
Linear Mode
