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Mod | | | Forums66 Topics128,049 Posts1,055,667 Members48,426 | | Most Online14,466 Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down with Ads! Again, thanks! | | | | Joined: Nov 2015 Posts: 34 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Nov 2015 Posts: 34 | I've been working on waking up my 53 2ton and have had issues getting it to start. The truck is converted to 12Volts, newative ground.
The battery was good a couple years ago but one day didn't work when I went to start it. No biggy. I figure its old.
I used a jumper box and it cranked for like 15 seconds without starting. I pushed the starter a second time and nothing. It was dead, from a full charge and the jump box was junk. I figured it was because the jumper was from harbor freight and blew it off.
So, today I put in a new battery. It cranks for about 15secs. I give it some more starter fluid an go to start and the battery is dead. Like no lights, no heater motor, nothing. DEAD!
You want to make God laugh? Tell him you plans.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,440 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,440 | Clean ALL the grounds down to bare metal and try again. If that doesn’t work put on new cables. If that doesn’t work you may have bought a bad battery. ðŸ›
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily) ‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence) “I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,771 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,771 | What's the terminal voltage of the battery- - - -measured at the posts, not the cable clamps? On a fully charged battery it should be 12.6 volts or slightly more. Now, try to operate the starter while someone monitors the battery post voltage. If it doesn't change, or only drops slightly, find the bad connection or open circuit from the battery to the starter and back along the ground circuit. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2015 Posts: 34 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Nov 2015 Posts: 34 | Ok, the battery voltage read out at just 0ver 12V. So I disconnected the battery, checked the terminals, reconnected it and no it turns over just fine. Got me. Now I just need to get the engine to fire off.
You want to make God laugh? Tell him you plans.
| | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,031 Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums | | Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,031 | Ok, the battery voltage read out at just 0ver 12V. So I disconnected the battery, checked the terminals, reconnected it and no it turns over just fine. Got me. Now I just need to get the engine to fire off. "Just over 12V" is nearly dead. The fact that you disconnected the terminals and reconnected them and got it to turn over faster tells me that you need to clean the terminal connections. You disturbed some of the corrosion that existed and reduced the resistance across the post-to-terminal junction. AND you need to charge the battery. Charge - voltage 100% - 12.70+ 75% - 12.40 50% - 12.20 25% - 12.00 0% - 11.80
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truckFollow this saga in Project JournalPhotos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2019 Posts: 1,003 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2019 Posts: 1,003 | Another thing to keep in mind. You moved both cables around somewhat when disconnecting and connecting the battery. You might of wiggled the cables enough the free up some corrosion you cannot see in the cable. If problem persists, remove terminals from cables, cut insulation back an inch or two. You will either have good clean wire, or greenish junk. If green, replace cables. | | |
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