North American Turbocoupe Organization



Obvious problem but I can't seem to solve it...
Screw-Rice Offline
Member
#1
Due to recent problems with the car I am slowly going insane. I fixed the whole blowing fuses, engine fires problem, but now I have a new one. I replaced the negative battery cable and bought a new end (for additional wires going to the battery) for the cable and tightend it down and the friggin thing broke in half > [Image: frown.gif] . Well I tried starting the car and all it did was click (alternator) well I grabbed the original end off the old cable and put it on. And it does the exact same thing than slowly (about 3 hours) the battery is completely dead. I can put my jump pack on and start the car immediately. But even after I drive it as soon as I kill it and try to re-start it I get the same clicking. While the car was running I removed the negative cable and the car remained running so I ruled out the alternator. Could my battery of finally cashed out or am I missing something completely obvious? The other cable that goes in the end along with the battery cable to mount to the post is corroded but I am not sure what that one does. I know I missing a completely obvious problem but can't seem to answear it.
Rice never knew what hit them.
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Pete D Offline
Administrator
#2
Why don't you take th ebattery to a parts store and have it tested. Do the easy stuff first. Many parts stores can test batterys and alternators.
Pete Dunham


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Screw-Rice Offline
Member
#3
I am doing that tomrrow, and to be honest I am hoping it is the battery because it justifies buying an optima red top Wink
Rice never knew what hit them.
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Noname
Unregistered
#4
Did you clean up the terminals / end connections on the cables before attaching them? I used to have corrosion problems on my negative battery terminal ALL the time until I started using some special coating I found at Pep Boys.
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1987tc Offline
Senior Member
#5
Pulling off the battery cable does NOT tale the alternator out of the picture. As a matter of fact I cannot begin to count the number of alternators that have been sold because people did that. When you put the cable back on it sends a spike through the system that has a nasty habbit of popping the diodes in the alternator. Another sign is the fact that it discharges while sitting. If the diodes are popped then it will discharge when ever the car is not running. It can still charge just fine while running but will discharge when sitting.
Wes
Sold my Turbocoupe. It went to a good home.
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Screw-Rice Offline
Member
#6
The connectors are new and the terminals are clean. I will have the alternator and the battery checked and see whats going on.
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philS Offline
Senior Member
#7
I would try a spare (or different) battery to see if it discharges as well. If you have a voltmeter, I would take a look at what is happening with the engine running (alternator charging the battery) and with key on, engine off (to see if there is additional draw on the battery, other than the small draw from the clock, computer, radio memory, etc.)

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Screw-Rice Offline
Member
#8
Quote:Originally posted by philS:
I would try a spare (or different) battery to see if it discharges as well. If you have a voltmeter, I would take a look at what is happening with the engine running (alternator charging the battery) and with key on, engine off (to see if there is additional draw on the battery, other than the small draw from the clock, computer, radio memory, etc.)



I'm going to borrow my brothers voltimeter to check the charge of the battery, how do I check and see if the alternator is putting out properly at home instead of taking it to autozone?
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Pete D Offline
Administrator
#9
You need to get the battery tested under load. If the alternator is putting out anything it will show by checking the terminals of the battery with a voltmeter, but that does not tell you if the battery is accepting the charge.
Pete Dunham


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Screw-Rice Offline
Member
#10
Quote:Originally posted by Pete D:
You need to get the battery tested under load. If the alternator is putting out anything it will show by checking the terminals of the battery with a voltmeter, but that does not tell you if the battery is accepting the charge.

Alright I am just going to pull the battery and get it tested down the street. Anyone running an optima battery, I have a friend who has one and swears by it, anyone else have good/bad opinions about them?
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