Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2006 18:47:49 -0500
Reply-To: Wesley Pegden <wes@CS.UCHICAGO.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Wesley Pegden <wes@CS.UCHICAGO.EDU>
Subject: Re: low voltage, starter running intermittently,
but alternator is okay?
In-Reply-To: <vanagon%2006012218312680@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Thanks for all the help.
After I left the van running to charge the battery, everything seems
fine. The van fires right up, finally!
This battery behavior has confused me before, I have to admit... I'm
always reluctant to learn my lesson.
I'm still a bit distraught since this is easily my 3rd alternator in 3
years---which is why I was thinking about improving the
alternator-battery wire. Should this improve my failure rate? (for the
record, when I went out and checked just now, the battery was actually
reading 13.20, not 13.28).
Thanks again,
Wes
Daniel L. Katz wrote:
> wes:
>
> replacement alternator is fine, and there is plenty of voltage across the
> battery for charging.
>
> if she fires up every time only with a boost (jump), then battery is
> almost certainly at fault.
>
> batteries absolutely exhibit this behavior when failing. they can be a
> little forgiving in that they start the van a few last times, and that is
> where confusion can arise in the diagnosis. many a good starter has been
> mistakenly replaced over a worn battery - believe me, i learned this
> lesson years ago, and the hard way.
>
> please let the list know how this resolves itself.
>
> dan
>
>
>
> On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 13:06:43 -0500, Wesley Pegden <wes@CS.UCHICAGO.EDU>
> wrote:
>
>
>> Okay, it looks like my replacement alternator is 14.0 volts at the
>> alternator, 13.28 volts at the battery. Is this too big a drop? Should
>> I clean up the battery--alternator connection? I've had bad history of
>> failing alternators with this van (1 a year, almost) so could this be my
>> underlying problem?
>>
>> Thanks...
>> wes
>>
>> By the way, would this really explain my starter motor's behavior?
>> (Starting 1 in 5 times, with no turnover at all when it doesn't start,
>> and otherwise, starting right away)
>>
>>
>>
>> Daniel L. Katz wrote:
>>
>>> wes:
>>>
>>> most likely the battery is shot.
>>>
>>> assuming that the replacement alternator is working ok (say 13.25 -
>>>
> 14.5 V
>
>>> across the battery terminals when running), and has had time to charge
>>>
> up
>
>>> the batery, the battery is probably at fault.
>>>
>>> sometimes batteries fail becasue they develop too much internal
>>> resistance, yet may pass a hydrometer test, and also show the standard
>>> 12.25 V across the terminals (with no load).
>>>
>>> given the symptoms, and assuming the alternator is working ok and has
>>>
> had
>
>>> time to charge the battery, if she fires up easily with a jump, then the
>>> battery is almost certainly at fault.
>>>
>>> dan
>>>
>>> On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 15:43:05 -0600, Wesley Alden Pegden
>>> <wes@CS.UCHICAGO.EDU> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hi guys,
>>>> I'm having frustrating electrical (I think) problems.
>>>>
>>>> First, my van ('84 manual) wouldn't start. Headlights would come on
>>>>
>>>>
>>> (battery okay) and they would dim when I turned the ignition (so power
>>>
> was
>
>>> getting to the starter), but it wouldn't turn. I heard a click when I
>>> would turn the key, and again when I would release it.
>>>
>>>
>>>> I ordered a rebuilt starter, and finally got around to installing it
>>>>
>>>>
>>> today. It started twice in a row, so I thought it was okay, but then
>>>
> the
>
>>> third time it didn't, and I realized I was back where I started. It
>>> starts maybe one out of 5 times, and when it starts, it starts right
>>>
> away.
>
>>>> The battery is right at 12.0 volts with the car off. With the key
>>>>
> turned
>
>>> all the way (but when it fails to start) it drops to 11.4. If it
>>>
> starts,
>
>>> it sits at 11.6. So now I figure maybe my alternator is bad. I had an
>>> extra alternator, so I put it in, but absolutely nothing has changed,
>>>
> and
>
>>> so now I'm stumped.
>>>
>>>
>>>> Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
>>>>
>>>> -Wes
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>
>
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