Odd battery issue
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Joined: Sep 2012
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From: Bowie MD
Odd battery issue
The battery sounded quite low yesterday when I went out to start the beast. I had it on a charger the other night and driven the car quite a bit the day before yesterday. While I haven't yet looked at it beyond making sure the cables weren't loose, I noticed yesterday that the voltage readout was fluctuating rapidly between 13.5 and 14.9(ish). Normally, that display is pretty stable, and I wonder if the voltage regulator is going wonky. I pulled in last night, though, and the headlights seemed normal. When I revved the motor, nothing got brighter. Nor did things dim when I let off. The battery is less than a year old, and the alternator is about 8, I think, but pretty low mileage. I assume the regulator is still inside the alternator?
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Jerry
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Jerry
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 53
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From: Colorado Springs
You might want to check your under hood lights and make sure one isn't stuck on. I had that happen to me a few months ago. I was lucky enough to notice it at night in the garage before it took out my battery.
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From: Bowie MD
Thanks. They go off, as do the visor lights (which were my guess the other day when the battery sounded weak). Also I've started to unplug the FM modulator in the cigar lighter plug as I've found it had turned back on a couple of times when I thought I had turned it off. It doesn't use much power but still...
I went out and checked the cables a bit ago. Neither was particularly loose but I put a quarter turn on each. I'm going to pull them off and clean the battery terminals and cable ends tomorrow, I think.
I went out and checked the cables a bit ago. Neither was particularly loose but I put a quarter turn on each. I'm going to pull them off and clean the battery terminals and cable ends tomorrow, I think.
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Joined: Sep 2012
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From: Bowie MD
I think it's the battery. I've had it on an automatic charger overnight and it's still drawing 6 amps. This is how it was acting when I replaced it last year. I guess I'll pull it out and get it tested. I just saw some battery discussion in a thread so I'm going to look at that also (if I can find it...)
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Joined: Sep 2012
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From: Bowie MD
Went in to the big box where I purchased the low-end Duralast battery in November. It was indeed bad. They refunded my entire purchase price and I purchased the Duralast Gold with the credit. I'm not sure how the money worked out but I wound up with the new battery, a new warrentee, and $4 back... We'll see how this one holds up.
Thanks for the feedback.
Jerry
Thanks for the feedback.
Jerry
