IHADAV8.com - Turbo Buick Tech, and Nonsense

Tech Area => General Buick Tech => Topic started by: chrisgarrett on May 28 2011, 04:14:19 PM

Title: Need electrical help again
Post by: chrisgarrett on May 28 2011, 04:14:19 PM: Original problem was that the battery would not hold a charge. I replaced the alternator and the battery and same problem. After driving around a short while, the radio went off, then the wide-band. I looked at the voltage on the Scanmaster, and I could see it dropping. Just made it to the shoulder of the road and got towed home.

I charged the battery, and it showed 12.8 volts. There was 12.2 at the alternator. When I started the car, the voltage went down to 11.8 at both alt and battery. As I let the car idle, the volts continued to drop until about 9, when the car died out. Cable to battery/alt. looks good. Grounds are solid.
Any ideas?
Title: Need electrical help again
Post by: daveismissing on May 28 2011, 05:27:46 PM: Either a huge drain somewhere or the alt is not working. Likely the latter.
Title: Re: Need electrical help again
Post by: chrisgarrett on May 28 2011, 05:35:41 PM: I fixed it. It was that damn battery/alt dash bulb. Why the hell is it designed that way?
Title: Need electrical help again
Post by: Steve Wood on May 28 2011, 05:55:26 PM: might be time to replace it with a resistor, or install John's field fix which is probably a resistor
Title: Need electrical help again
Post by: Steve Wood on May 28 2011, 05:57:36 PM: btw, Chris, one of my Battery Tenders died and I replaced it with a CTEK charger which has a setting for Optima type batteries as well as others. It works really nicely.
Title: Re: Need electrical help again
Post by: daveismissing on May 28 2011, 06:28:32 PM: Quote from: "chrisgarrett @ Sat May 28, 2011 4:35 pm"
I fixed it.
Title: Need electrical help again
Post by: chrisgarrett on May 28 2011, 07:25:12 PM: Quote from: "Steve Wood @ Sat May 28, 2011 3:57 pm"
btw, Chris, one of my Battery Tenders died and I replaced it with a CTEK charger which has a setting for Optima type batteries as well as others.
Title: Re: Need electrical help again
Post by: chrisgarrett on May 28 2011, 07:26:57 PM: That damn bulb cost me a lot of money in towing and battery and alt. replacement.
Title: Need electrical help again
Post by: Steve Wood on May 28 2011, 09:29:22 PM: battery was old so that was not a loss and it may have killed the alternator by forcing it to overcharge...m aybe...but the light did not kill the alternator so don;t feel bad.

I believe it was the 7002 if that is a legit number
Title: Need electrical help again
Post by: Charlief1 on May 28 2011, 09:54:58 PM: How much was it Steve?
Title: Need electrical help again
Post by: Steve Wood on May 29 2011, 01:10:13 AM: the price varies considerably from source to source, but, I recall paying about $100
Title: Need electrical help again
Post by: daveismissing on May 29 2011, 10:36:07 AM: poking around-one of the better prices:
amazon $91.30 free shipp
http://www.amazon.com/CTEK-Multi-7002-Battery-Charger/dp/B000FRLO9Y
Title: Need electrical help again
Post by: SuperSix on May 29 2011, 10:47:35 AM: THis is for maintaining/keeping a charge on a car battery when the car is driven rarely, correct?

I use one of these - $4.99 on sale.

http://www.harborfreight.com/automatic-battery-float-charger-42292.html

I have this one too - I use it to maintain batteries I store in the garage.
http://www.harborfreight.com/15-amp-three-stage-onboard-battery-charger-maintainer-99857.html
Title: Need electrical help again
Post by: SuperSix on May 29 2011, 12:19:42 PM: Damn. I just noticed the cheap one said "not fir use with AGM batteries". Odd - I have been using it on my ATV for almost 2 years, and the battery is fine. I JUST replaced the battery today - I had no idea how old the old one was, and I would rather spend a few $$$ than get stuck/stranded. (My ATV doesn't have a kick start)

Now I am worried I need to buy an AGM compatible charge for it, even though the old battery didn't seem to mind.

I use one of them on the 87 T too.