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charging system not working!
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stuman3286
New User
Feb 15, 2008, 4:06 PM
Post #1 of 8
(2544 views)
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charging system not working!
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hello,
I went to use my car about a week ago, and it was dead. I knew immediately that the car was dead, and needed to be jumped. I had a roommate jump it, and went about my business as usual. I drove around for most of that night, leaving me to believe that nothing was wrong, perhaps I'd left a light on or something. The next day, it was dead again. I knew immediately that something was wrong with the charging system. Today was the first chance that i had to look at it. I had a roommate jump it, and upon removing the jumper cables, i tested the voltage (18.2). It gradually went back down to where it should be while running, at around 14. I turned off the vehicle, and about an hour later tested the voltage (12.01). About another half hour later, it was 11.91. I removed the clamp from the negative terminal on my battery, and tested the voltage using the negative battery clamp and the positive terminal. There was no voltage, meaning that no voltage was running through the car. That is where I am now. Anybody have a diagnosis?
thanks,
Willy
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way2old
Veteran
/ Moderator
Feb 15, 2008, 5:12 PM
Post #2 of 8
(2537 views)
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Re: charging system not working!
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If you can jump it and it stays running, the charging system is OK. The test you did by removing the negative cable is invalid. Once you removed the negative cable, you took the current path away and therefore no current can flow. If it does not start after sitting for a while, the battery is more than likely bad. You watched the voltage keep dropping , so you should see the battery can not hold a proper charge.
Being way2old is why I need help from younger minds
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 16, 2008, 7:22 AM
Post #3 of 8
(2534 views)
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Re: charging system not working!
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To add: Did I read 18.2v was seen just after a jump? That's enough to fry things and would almost always be a fault with the voltage regulator but now could have taken out the battery or more. Just a thought,
T
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stuman3286
New User
Feb 18, 2008, 1:43 PM
Post #4 of 8
(2524 views)
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Re: charging system not working!
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a couple of hours after the jump, i tested the voltage again, and it was 8.3. I then took my battery to Pep Boys, and they told me there was nothing wrong with it. Now, 2 days later, I tested the voltage again, and it's 1.9v. The car seems to charge while it's running, around 13.5-14 volts. When it is shut off, it slowly drains. According to Pep Boys, there's nothing wrong with it. I have no idea what to do next.
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way2old
Veteran
/ Moderator
Feb 18, 2008, 4:34 PM
Post #5 of 8
(2523 views)
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Re: charging system not working!
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I would replace the battery. You are checking the voltage across the battery terminals, correct? If the battery drains down that fast, the battery is no good.
Being way2old is why I need help from younger minds
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stuman3286
New User
Feb 20, 2008, 12:14 PM
Post #6 of 8
(2512 views)
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Re: charging system not working!
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I just tested the battery while it was connected, and the voltage was .7v. I then disconnected the negative terminal and tested the battery again, and it jumped up to 2.65... Does this mean that it's not the battery?
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way2old
Veteran
/ Moderator
Feb 20, 2008, 5:37 PM
Post #7 of 8
(2508 views)
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Re: charging system not working!
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If the battery will not maintain approximately 12.4 volts with nothing hooked to it, replace battery. If voltage falls under about 12 volts, replace battery. If battery has run completely down 2 or 3 times, replace battery. If battery is a few years old,(over 4) replace battery. Guess I am saying replace the battery. If there is any other concerns with the charging system a weak battery will give a bogus reading.
Being way2old is why I need help from younger minds
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slipperyslope
Novice
Feb 23, 2008, 1:29 PM
Post #8 of 8
(2497 views)
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Re: charging system not working!
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There was once a valid test (before all the bcm,pcm,tcm ,ipc etc...) to check for a draw on the battery,that could be done with a test light. Unhook the negative cable from the battery and connect a test light between the two ,if the light "lights" at all ,the battery will be dead in the morning. As I said that was before all the computers.now you use a switch that will allow an amp meter to be connected in series ( on each side of the switch) so that when all the computers "time out" , the swith can be opened and you can read the milliamp draw. Time out could take 20 or 30 minutes. Each vehicle has an acceptable milliamp draw limit.
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