I have 1990 bird, 350 TPI. Not too long ago my battery started dieing on me. At first it would be only a few times a week, then it got to be an everyday thing. But i realized it wasn't only the battery because if I kept trying it would eventually crank without being jumped off. So i was pretty sure it had something to do with the starter. So it finally completely went out and would not crank for nothing. It was a combination of the battery and the starter and they both were on the way out. So i had the starter replaced. Now i have a new battery that was just put in yesterday and I am still having the same problem? Could there be something not wired correctly or something draining juice from the battery? Could anybody help me with this please

 

Is your alternator charging correctly? Most AutoZones will test it for you for free.

Check the wiring to your starter. It's common for it to get too much heat and get crispy. It runs down the passenger side of the motor to the starter from the battery.

Is your battery going dead just sitting there or is that with the car in use also?

 

When we got the new battery in, it cranked. I cut it off and cranked it a few times to make sure and it started every time. But I got up this morning to check it and it would not crank. At first I hit the switch and there was some clicks, then it was turning over but it didnt seem to have the power to crank up.

So if the wiring is getting to much heat what should be done?

 

Normally when the wires get hot they drop voltage all together. They should be replaced at that point.

Your issue sounds like a draining issue to me. Check your voltage after it sits. Make sure you didn't leave something on in the car. Make sure nothing is running with the car in the off position.

 

Thanks I really appreciate your input. Yes, the wiring from the battery from the starter seems fine but I'm not completely sure. Hopefully its just drainage from the something that can be found pretty easily. Does it sound to you like the alternator may not be charging correctly or is it most likely drainage?

 

If it's going dead just from sitting the alternator is not the issue. If it's going dead while you're driving it then it's probably the alternator.

 

disconnect the negative battery cable and put a light tester bettween the battery and the cable if it lights up you have a draw...start pulling fuses till the light goes out. if it goes out youll know where to look... good luck

 

I went through something similar a few months ago. Alt and starter less than a year old, would start mostly fine but would randomly refuse to crank. Leave it a while and it would usually have a change of heart.

Verified alt was putting out 14.4V, then got a new batt. No go, driving me crazy, still leaving me stuck in car parks.

Turned out to be the negative battery cable, specifically the terminal. Looked fine from the outside, but stripped the insulation off it, stuck it in a vice and gave it a good tug, the cable just cracked off the terminal. Was completely corroded from the inside out. Replaced, problem solved.

 

See i don't think thats the problem here because ill have a battery charger hooked up to it all day and it crank like it is nothing. But overnight ill take it off the battery and next morning it will not crank. So something must be draining over night or its a different problem that I am unaware of.

Thanks for your input, and Im glad you found your problem and got it fixed.