Alternator or battery?

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Apr 27, 2004 | 09:03 AM

TheStef

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Burning Brakes

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Alternator or battery?

Hi guys,

I took out my Vette for the first time this year, (its been parked all winter)
I had to put the charger on the battery for a few hours since the battery was dead, I'd say about 4 hours or so. I started her up and drove for about a hour or so, then I parked it for about 20 min, I tried to start her up?? but the battery was dead, it cranked for maybe 3 seconds then it kept cranking but really slowly and it wouldn't start.

I'm wondering if its the battery or the alt.. do you guys know any way of finding out?

Apr 27, 2004 | 09:07 AM

Nathan Plemons

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Re: Alternator or battery? (TheStef)

Battery.

Apr 27, 2004 | 09:16 AM

vader86

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From: Athens AL

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Re: Alternator or battery? (TheStef)

Thats probably the battery.

Apr 27, 2004 | 10:24 AM

TheStef

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Burning Brakes

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Re: Alternator or battery? (vader86)

How much is an alt for our cars?
I'll change the battery and take it from there.

If it is infact the alt, how much would that be? and is it a hard job to change?

Apr 27, 2004 | 10:54 AM

thepenguin99

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From: Millington Tennessee

St. Jude Contributor

Re: Alternator or battery? (TheStef)

Was you car charging according to the gauge on the dash? It sounds like a battery problem but I had a similiar problem with my 1990 and it was the alternator.

Apr 27, 2004 | 11:02 AM

dwestsr

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From: charlotte nc

Re: Alternator or battery? (TheStef)

Definately check the battery first. It's a good idea to put a trickle charger that it designed to maintain the battery over a long storage such as a "battery Tender". That way you will not have a dead battery in the spring and the battery will last longer. The alternator is easy to check with a volt meter when the engine is running. If you find you have a bad alt. why not replace it with a larger capacity like a 140 amp from a 93 vette or later. There is a tech tip on this in the tools section.
:cheers:

Apr 27, 2004 | 12:06 PM

jfb

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From: Cincinnati, Oh USA

Re: Alternator or battery? (TheStef)

You must not spend any time on C4 tech because I have offered this info a lot! You have a battery with very little amp hour capacity now. Lead acid batteries self discharge 1 % each day and more if connected to your el. system because there is a small leakage current drawn from the battery. Lead acid batteries collect lead sulphate on their plates when they discharge and lead sulphate is a good insulator. If you let your battery sit until it totally discharges, most of its plate area is inactive due to the lead sulphate. When you store a lead acid battery, you should periodically charge it. Since you have a battery charger, buy an interval timer and have it charge your battery every day on its lowest interval (usually 15 mins) and your battery will have a normal life and always be ready for when you want to drive your vette.

Apr 27, 2004 | 04:44 PM

TheStef

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Burning Brakes

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Re: Alternator or battery? (jfb)

No, I haven't been arround for a little wile on the forum so I probably mist your posts.

What you wrote though convinced me its the battery, its a 4 year old battery and the car is parked every winter and I dont' recharge the battery and it easely gets below -30 celcius up here in Ontario/Quebec.

Thanks! :cheers: :cheers:

Ps: I found out wile I was writing this that the Alternator tested fine.

Thanks guys! :thumbs: