Voltage and electrical question
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,683
Likes: 34
From: Working on the car NY
Voltage and electrical question
First off, the car has been off road for 4 years. I have a 2002 battery in it that's been on a Tender all the time. I know I need a new battery when the car gets on the road especially if it doesn't power up the motor when I try and start it - which hopefully will be in the next few days.
I put a voltmeter on the battery this am and it reads 13.2 volts
. I then put the battery disconnect on power, the only draw is the 2 under front dash panel courtesy lights, and the voltage drops to 7 and change
.
I check the "switched" pink wire on top of the steering column that goes to the ignition - it's also on 7.2v when switched.
I go to the starter input "heavy wire" terminal and it reads 13.2 volts.
How can that be
.
I put a voltmeter on the battery this am and it reads 13.2 volts
. I then put the battery disconnect on power, the only draw is the 2 under front dash panel courtesy lights, and the voltage drops to 7 and change.I check the "switched" pink wire on top of the steering column that goes to the ignition - it's also on 7.2v when switched.
I go to the starter input "heavy wire" terminal and it reads 13.2 volts.
How can that be
.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,116
Likes: 5
From: Livonia MI
An open circuit test with a voltmeter, means nothing, as draws virtually 0.0 amps. Test the same thing with a spare tailight or headlamp bulb for load, and see what you get. If needing a battery, your best bet right now is probably Advance Auto Parts. Purchase online the next few days using Code BIG30, and $30 bucks off. Pick up in store, a bit later. I use they're Gold batteries all the time, as 3yr free/7yr pro rated.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,683
Likes: 34
From: Working on the car NY
An open circuit test with a voltmeter, means nothing, as draws virtually 0.0 amps. Test the same thing with a spare tailight or headlamp bulb for load, and see what you get. If needing a battery, your best bet right now is probably Advance Auto Parts. Purchase online the next few days using Code BIG30, and $30 bucks off. Pick up in store, a bit later. I use they're Gold batteries all the time, as 3yr free/7yr pro rated.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,683
Likes: 34
From: Working on the car NY
An open circuit test with a voltmeter, means nothing, as draws virtually 0.0 amps. Test the same thing with a spare tailight or headlamp bulb for load, and see what you get. If needing a battery, your best bet right now is probably Advance Auto Parts. Purchase online the next few days using Code BIG30, and $30 bucks off. Pick up in store, a bit later. I use they're Gold batteries all the time, as 3yr free/7yr pro rated.
Cosco also told me they only take their own batteries in for core return - I don't even think that's legal. I had a WM battery for core return so their latest core price was $9 - so their battery would have actually cost me $89.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
I just took in an Optima as a core to Costco. They told me any battery bigger than a Motorcycle battery was OK
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,683
Likes: 34
From: Working on the car NY
My Cosco use to sell Optima but last week there wasn't any on the shelf. Maybe who I asked there about core returns didn;t know what they were talking about. Next time I'm in there I will ask them again FWIW. Regards, Fred
