The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Battery? Connections? What Now?

It's always something with these jalopies, isn't it.

After installing my new speedometer and fixing the gauge lights, I took Ol' Roy for a nighttime spin. Everything was hunky Dory.

After I got back I parked and then attempted to restart the engine after a short time.

Engine turned over extremely slowly with a couple attempts like the battery was low. Then it didn't turn over at all.

When I tested the battery with a voltmeter, it registered 6.4v or so. That seems like normal full charge. The (+) side of the coil registered 5.6v with the ignition switch turned on.

Manually engaging the starter lever made no difference. Starter didn't turn at all.

Battery is about 3 years old, maybe 4.

I'll clean all the connections but this truck gets used a lot and doesn't sit around so corrosion doesn't seem likely.

Try jump start with another battery or vehicle. (6V)...to kind of proove it's the battery.........or just go buy a battery. However 5.6V at coil is TOO LOW for switch-on condition, should be same as battery voltage with tiny drop maybe. But of course low V at coil has nothing to do with slow/no crank. The jump can identify a bad battery or bad starter, wiring, switch, etc. If it starts again after sitting awhile with no charger applied, it's sulfated battery.

Thanks Bartomas. I just went out to try again and take some voltage readings.

No sound or turnover. 5.35v at the coil.

I ran jumper cables from the battery directly to the starter bypassing the battery cables and still nothing. Starter is about a year old but that means nothing anymore.

Otto,
If you don't have another 6 volt battery to Jump it, take the battery to your local shop and have it tested. Mine did the same as you are describing..battery was NO Good! It was 3 years old. Once the 6 volts go, they GO!
Todd

Yes, I'm thinking it 's the battery. Any other car and I would already be pulling it out.

I guess i'M just worried that I might have messed something up under the dash with all the work I just finished doing under there. I'm sure its just a coincidence.

3 years for a battery is pathetic. I just replaced one in another vehicle that was 10 years old.

Otto,
We ALL agree three years for a battery is beyond Sad.
Good luck & keep us updated!
I ended up with "Deka" 6 volt battery. Been great so far. Fingers crossed.
Todd

More likely than not there is something not right with your wiring the dash lights.
Something is staying on and draining the battery

This morning the battery showed about 6.4 - 6.5 volts. Attempted to start the truck as normal and the starter did not spin over. A jump from a 12 volt battery started the truck right up.

It seems like 6.5v should be enough to start the truck but maybe there's something wrong with the battery that's causing it to die as soon as the starter switch is depressed?

Anyway with the truck was running, I tested the battery and it showed 6.66 volts. Not a good sign. Hahaha.

I know it should probably be around 7.3 or so if the generator is working, but would the voltage be lower on a bad battery? In other words didd a bad generator cause the battery to die or do I need to get a known good battery and then check it then?

Also, I don't think there's a power drain but I will certainly check everything. I do know that a couple times this week the starter seemed to spin a little slower than normal but the truck starts so quickly I didn't think about it too much - colder weather, etc. So the battery could have been dying for a little while.

Is checking voltage at the battery with the truck running the best way to test a generator? Will a bad battery give misleading results on the generator's health?

Have the battery load tested, I suspect that it shows good voltage until there is a current draw and then it drops off significantly. Batteries are not what they used to be (or we wish there were).

Will do. Hopefully Advance Auto can test a 6v battery.

Battery is dated 3/20 so it's 4+ years old instead of 3.

Yep, battery failed under load test. So I bought a new Duracell battery for $110

Not too bad in price.
Double check connections.
See what the generator is putting out too.
Todd

Yes, I just did that. It appears that the battery is not being charged. Stayed at 6.3v while idling and revving up.

What is the best way to test whether the generator or voltage regulator is at fault? Or other issue?

I'll start a new thread.

It seems like the old battery was helped along to its final resting place by a malfunctioning charging system.