Car not charging battery, only drain is when starting
Thread Starter
Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 314
Likes: 3
From: San Antonio, Texas
Car: '83 Sport Coupe
Engine: 360
Transmission: TKO-500
Axle/Gears: 12 bolt 3.73 TrueTrac
Car not charging battery, only drain is when starting
Hi guys, I have seen a few similar threads but nothing that describes my exact problem. I have a 2 known good batteries I tested for this just in case, but here lies my problem.
My car will start run and drive just fine until the battery eventually dies from the starter draining it over a few days of use. But even after it does die I can jump the car and drive as long as I want.
The alternator is pushing out correct voltage when the car is running, but if I meter it at the battery I see no voltage increase over time as if the alternator is not charging the battery at all.
Any input? This is probably silly, but it is really bothering me.
My car will start run and drive just fine until the battery eventually dies from the starter draining it over a few days of use. But even after it does die I can jump the car and drive as long as I want.
The alternator is pushing out correct voltage when the car is running, but if I meter it at the battery I see no voltage increase over time as if the alternator is not charging the battery at all.
Any input? This is probably silly, but it is really bothering me.
Last edited by 68Strat; Mar 5, 2011 at 10:44 AM.
Supreme Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,341
Likes: 12
From: Mooresville NC
Car: LOWERED ♦ CRIMSON METALFLAKE
Engine: ► 400 KUBES ◄
Transmission: 765R4
Axle/Gears: EATON POSI 4.56
Charge Account
Using an external voltmeter across the battery with the engine at least 1200 RPM, what does the meter read?
Then shut off the engine, what does the meter read?
If the voltage did not drop when you shut off the engine, keep the engine OFF and perform the measurements below.
The heavier red wire goes to the positive stud, and should have power at all times.
The thinner red wire goes to terminal S (the sensing circuit) and should have power at all times.
The brown wire goes to terminal F (the turn-on input) and should have power when the key is in the RUN position.
◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙
Happy Racing!
◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙
How bout those too scared to drive without headlights in the daytime
and the ones that need headlights for a little rain
.
Then shut off the engine, what does the meter read?
If the voltage did not drop when you shut off the engine, keep the engine OFF and perform the measurements below.
The heavier red wire goes to the positive stud, and should have power at all times.
The thinner red wire goes to terminal S (the sensing circuit) and should have power at all times.
The brown wire goes to terminal F (the turn-on input) and should have power when the key is in the RUN position.
◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙
Happy Racing!
◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙
How bout those too scared to drive without headlights in the daytime
and the ones that need headlights for a little rain.
Thread Starter
Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 314
Likes: 3
From: San Antonio, Texas
Car: '83 Sport Coupe
Engine: 360
Transmission: TKO-500
Axle/Gears: 12 bolt 3.73 TrueTrac
Re: Charge Account
Thanks for the reply, I used a meter and I think I have narrowed down the problem. The 83 was originally a one wire alternator car, which would explain the connector coming off the + battery cable which isn't hooked up, which would have gone to a seperate voltage regulator perhaps? The car has a 3 wire alt put in, with both posts 1 and 2 spliced into the same place. If I jump pin 2 to the + stud do you think this would fix my problem? The voltage at the battery stayed the same even when the car was running, but at pins 1 and 2 it was showing proper voltage.
Supreme Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,341
Likes: 12
From: Mooresville NC
Car: LOWERED ♦ CRIMSON METALFLAKE
Engine: ► 400 KUBES ◄
Transmission: 765R4
Axle/Gears: EATON POSI 4.56
Charge Account
When you refer to ‘pin 2’ that doesn’t indicate which wire by function you want to jump.
If pins ‘1 and 2’ have proper voltage, pin 2 doesn’t need to jump to any location.
If you’re still having charging problems, let me know the brand and model number of the alt you have in the car now.
◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙
Happy Racing!
◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙
I’ll Bump You Once To Move Over, Next Time I’ll Spin You
.
If pins ‘1 and 2’ have proper voltage, pin 2 doesn’t need to jump to any location.
If you’re still having charging problems, let me know the brand and model number of the alt you have in the car now.
◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙
Happy Racing!
◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙
I’ll Bump You Once To Move Over, Next Time I’ll Spin You
.
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