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| | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 295 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 295 | My charging system doesn’t seem to be working have a 52 Chevy truck 235 engine when the truck was 12 v when I got it had it rewired a couple of years ago and put an alternator on don’t remember the amps can run truck for a bit ( driveway idle)
Turn off than won’t start I keep the battery on a battery tender. I did notice a sticker on the battery with a 2013 battery
Could it be possible my truck isn’t charging the battery because it’s so old?
This is no longer fun
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,749 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,749 | Definitely! Batteries have a limited lifespan, caused by the reactive material on the plates falling off the grids due to vibration and just plain old age. Try disabling the ignition so you can crank the engine for 15 seconds without it starting. After 15 seconds, while still cranking, the voltage measured at the battery posts should not drop below 9.6 volts. If it's below that, the battery either needs recharging or replacing. Even when using a battery tender regularly, I have to replace the battery in my Harley soft tail about every 2-3 years.
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: Mar 2010 Posts: 295 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 295 | Voltage meter was reading 12.43 engine off engine running it was 12.39
This is no longer fun
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 3,439 Moderator - The Electrical Bay | | Moderator - The Electrical Bay Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 3,439 | I've had good luck with keeping batteries up to 7-9 years. But they are almost always on a battery tender. It is pretty obvious (to me) when it is time to trade it in for a new one because they won't hold a charge without the tender. (amongst other things). I have also had batteries that are so "dead" that the vehicle won't run even with jumper cables on it.
Last edited by Rusty Rod; 07/26/2021 10:20 PM.
Another quality post.
Real Trucks Rattle
HELP! The Paranoids are after me!
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,660 Curmudgeon | | Curmudgeon Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,660 | Every 9 years is about my experience as well.
I don't trust battery tenders that you leave on the battery all the time. In my area we have lightening storms that can zap them and the battery.
If the problem is not obvious (clean the battery cables etc.), I pull my battery and take it to my FLAPS. They hook it to a pass/fail load tester. Doesn't take long. If it fails buy a new one. If it passes and needs a charge, they put it to a charger that also determines the health of the battery (may take a couple hours). From this information I can determine if I have a problem with the charging system on my truck.
"Adding CFM to a truck will only help at engine speeds you don't want to use."
"I found there was nothing to gain beyond 400 CFM."
| | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,004 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: 11,004 | Some basic numbers.
A fully charged 12V battery should read 12.6-12.7V.
A charging system should put out ~13-14V. Some don't work at idle.
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 2010 Posts: 295 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 295 | The alternator belt was a bit loose i pulled it back about 2 inches or so now it’s nice and snug p/s not making as much noise.
A new battery is next in the list but chasing a carburetor issue right now that I will go and check to make sure all the wires are tight from alternator to ignition switch.
Well didn’t get it out this summer hopefully for sure next summer.
Thanks to all for input.
This is no longer fun
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