Battery Discharge Help Needed
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,136
Likes: 62
From: West Kingston RI
Battery Discharge Help Needed
This is on my 92 Camaro. Put in a new motor and now if I drive the car for 15 20 minutes and shut it off I cannot get the starter to turn over. Temp runs around 180 185 so not overheating. Now I also notice that at idle the alternator is putting out about 14.2 volts, measured with separate volt meter but as I drive and get to full temp the voltage starts to drop. Even with a jump from wrecker starter will not spin. Is it possible that a bad starter could be causing a battery drain while driveing. I have already changed the battery. Thanks for any help. Dick
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
I would surmise that the mechanics who installed your engine neglected to re-install the 4 ga. ground cable running from the right-side motor mount to a mounting bolt for the starter. Without that, there isn't enough of a current path to [reliably] start the engine.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,136
Likes: 62
From: West Kingston RI
Thanks I will check to see if there was a ground strap that we missed. I know there wasn't one on that location when we pulled the motor, original motor,but maybe on the firewall to block. Could this cause a battery drain while running? At idle it has been confirmed that alternator is putting out 14.2 volts yet when car dies battery is about 50 to 60% drained?
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
If a wrecker charger won't spin the starter you either have a total disconnect ( like bad cable connections) or shorted starter.
Does the starter even try to engage as in click ? Or does the starter groan as though its pulling lots of power ?
If you have a bad connection on one of your cables the alt will sense the battery doesn't need a charge and the charging voltage will drop.
I would clean all connections and make sure all the ground cables are in place including the small one going from the battery neg to the body at the battery.
Does the starter even try to engage as in click ? Or does the starter groan as though its pulling lots of power ?
If you have a bad connection on one of your cables the alt will sense the battery doesn't need a charge and the charging voltage will drop.
I would clean all connections and make sure all the ground cables are in place including the small one going from the battery neg to the body at the battery.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,136
Likes: 62
From: West Kingston RI
It trys to spin but it just groans. Solenoid definately engaging as motor does try to turn or turns very slow. Go out next day and she will start. Have been told it's the battrey but I have changed the battery with the one from my vette and it does the same thing, works fine in the vette.
I will go over all connections this weekend.
I will go over all connections this weekend.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
It trys to spin but it just groans. Solenoid definately engaging as motor does try to turn or turns very slow. Go out next day and she will start. Have been told it's the battrey but I have changed the battery with the one from my vette and it does the same thing, works fine in the vette.
I will go over all connections this weekend.
I will go over all connections this weekend.
If the brushes are going bad the starter will do what your describing.
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