Strange Battery Issue...

[sylert]

Heres the deal, I just got this truck, battery looks pretty new. The terminals well all corroded and gross and the battery gauge was always a little below half. I cleaned the connections with a wire brush and tightened it all up and now it reads a little above half when im driving. my problem is this, If i start the car, and drive a short distance and then go to start it again, it barely cranks. But if i come home and go out the next morning, it cranks real fast and starts right up? it doesnt make sense to me from what ive been reading. I never jumped or needed to yet but today it almost didnt start. this can be daytime or night running no headlights etc. And i dont see how letting it sit for a while would make it have more power

 

[Seabronc]

Check the battery (-) cable, terminals and it's connection to the engine block. Remove, clean an d reconnect the (+) connections to the start solenoid and the starter. It may be necessary to clean the surface between the starter and the engine block as that is the ground for it.

The reason that setting for a while may improve it is that a poor connection may change it's characteristics as the surface temperature at the connection changes.

Good luck,

>-

 

[sylert]

I reconnected and cleaned all connections thoroughly, it seems to have much better amperage on the gauge, but even so if im driving around for a while at night with just the regular headlights on it goes down below half again..Im worried ill get stuck somewhere although i always have cables for that reason...maybe its time for a new altenator? when i use even just my blinkers I notice mild variations in the battery needle. im not running anything else which requires electricity either! Wheres a good spot for alternators? Preferably hi-output because i do have a lightbar that i would like to make use of without worrying my battery will fail

 

[Schroder's 84 Bronco]

You can bring it to an Autozone and they can test it for free. They can do it on the truck but you get a definite go or no go on the alt if you bring it in and use there bench tester.

 

[Justshootme84]

You might want to look up the links to a "3G alternator" swap in the Tech Articles forum undere my link to Miesk5's Homepage. If you're wanting to run aux lights or even a stereo and power amp, the alternator upgrade is a good choice. You might also get your battery tested to be sure it's holding a charge, JSM84