Electrical Problem, Can anyone help?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 378
Likes: 0
Electrical Problem, Can anyone help?
It's kinda hard to explain but i'll do the best I can...When I start the car it runs and drives but when I let it sit there and idle, the volts just start dropping..so do the rpms, like it's coughing. Then earlier today I went out there to check all my connections and I looked around my battery and there was a wire coming from underneath the windshield with a few other lines and this one came down towards the battery and had a box with a fuse in it then came out the other side and had a metal loop that slides around the positive battery thread. I remember that it used to go around it but it was off this time. So I put it back on and tried to start the car and it wouldnt even turn over, I could just hear the starter clicking. Then I take it back off and it starts but does what it was doing before. I've put a new alternator on the car already, so it can't be going bad. Is there a short somewhere? I'm pretty sure all my connections are connected. Electrical stuff confuses me, anyone got any ideas??? Appreciate all help.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
This is one weird condition. It really depends on where in the cars electrical system that wire goes to as its effect. Unless you have a below normal idle speed, your alternator should be able to maintain 14.7 volts across the battery during idle. A discharged battery can cause the alternator to deliver large current at idle and lower it output voltage because at low alternator rpm, it cannot generate its rated current. A battery is considered discharged if its no load terminal voltage is 12.0 or lower. If this is your case, charge your battery up with a battery charger, NEVER use the alternator to charge you battery up, it will shorten the life of the alternator. A battery is considered charged when its no load terminal voltage is 12.9 volts or higher (after sitting for several hours with no load and no longer being charged). It takes at least 24 hours to charge up a discharged battery!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Yep, charge it up with a plug- into -the -wall -outlet battery charger! Don't let car batteries sit for long periods (4+ wks) because they self discharge 1% each day even disconnected and during discharge the plates collect lead sulphate which is a good insulator. A fully sulphated battery is a door stop! Charge the battery periodically. The best way is to buy a battery tender (go to www.harborfreight.com) or if you already have a battery charger, buy an interval timer (turns your lights on each night when you aren't home) and have it turn your charger on once each day for its minimum interval (usually 15 min). Your battery will always be fully charged and have a normal life. Sulphated batteries have a shortened life.
