Alternator Problem??? Help Please!!!
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,737
Likes: 349
From: Layton Utah
Originally Posted by schtick
I just got back from my "nice day cruise" and no problems whatsoever. The voltage stayed at 14.4 the whole time. I shut it off once and it sat for probably an hour and a half, went out to the car and it showed 12.3 on the DIC before I started it. Hopefully, it will be fine now. Should I disconnect the battery if I end up not driving it for a while? What do you recommend?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
From: Southeast Missouri
Before I took it out today I took a wire brush to both of the cables to get them shining real good. I guess maybe it had that slight film on it like you said. There wasn't really any corrosion on it. I had cleaned it off the other day and there may have been a slight bit left over so that's why I used the wire brush today. I guess I'll try to get ahold of one of those battery tenders to help keep it up. I'm going to leave it like it is and see what happens in the morning. It might turn out that all of this mess that I thought I was in was actually something small like a dirty cable. I greatly appreciate everyone's help by the way. 
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 12
From: Vancouver
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
That terminal connection is very neat and tidy connection. But if you think about it there's a bolt that turns inside something that you can't see. If there is corrosion in there, you can't see that either. That's why I got digging in there and found corrosion. Also whoever tightened up the connection didn't do it correctly. You'll notice that there are dimples on the battery and protrusions on the cable connection. When you're tightening the bolt into the battery and getting close to it being tight you must twist the cable to engage the dimples in the battery connection. The person who tightened my wife's terminal connection didn't twist the connection to engage the dimples. Poor connection, actually a really bad connection. Once I cleaned it all out and tightened it down I could feel the whole connection move. It must have warped the ring inside the cable connector after being tightened improperly. I also used some dielectric grease everywhere I could to ensure a good seal. Let's hope this is your problem.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
From: Southeast Missouri
I see. I didn't notice the dimples and I'm not sure that this battery has them. I'll check and see and I think i may have a little bit of dielectric grease too. I'll throw some of that on there. Thanks.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 58,551
Likes: 95
From: The warm part of Anger Island
St. Jude Donor '09
Originally Posted by schtick
I see. I didn't notice the dimples and I'm not sure that this battery has them. I'll check and see and I think i may have a little bit of dielectric grease too. I'll throw some of that on there. Thanks.
Stock Man is on the money with the dialectric grease. Don't be stingy with it (but don't make a mess.)
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
From: Southeast Missouri
I drove it again today and everything went fine. No problems whatsoever. I guess maybe I just overlooked a very small detail-the battery cables. Thanks again for everyone's help.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
From: Southeast Missouri
Oh yeah. I got a battery maintainer last night. Should I use this thing every day or just when it's going to be sitting for a while. Another thing, it has lights on it that indicate whether it's charging, charged, or dead. If you leave the thing on when it is already fully charged, will it reduce the battery's life, kinda like a cell phone does (supposedly)?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
If its a maintainer/ trinkel charger,,, it should be automatic. If the battery is charged,, it will go static until it senses that the battery needs to be charged. I wouldn't attach it if the car is only going to be down for a week or two. Mine has been layed up for 2 months at a time without any starting issues! Leaving a trinkel charger on the battery (low amperage i.e. 1-2 amps will not damage a lead acid battery!
BC
BC
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,945
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From: Vancouver
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Hi, I am glad you seem to have rectified the battery thing. 
Your maintainer can be left on 24/7. I put it on when the battery comes out every winter and when the car will sit for a week or more. Good luck man I am glad we could help you out. 
Your maintainer can be left on 24/7. I put it on when the battery comes out every winter and when the car will sit for a week or more. Good luck man I am glad we could help you out.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 12
From: Vancouver
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Originally Posted by schtick
Thanks again fellas. Where can I get some of those chrome brake pad covers, Stock Man?
But I think Westcoast Corvette's sells them. They are Stainless Steel Brake Pad Covers. Hope that helps.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,737
Likes: 349
From: Layton Utah
Originally Posted by schtick
Oh yeah. I got a battery maintainer last night. Should I use this thing every day or just when it's going to be sitting for a while. Another thing, it has lights on it that indicate whether it's charging, charged, or dead. If you leave the thing on when it is already fully charged, will it reduce the battery's life, kinda like a cell phone does (supposedly)?
