maddzz1 Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 I put a new battery in my truck last week after the old one died, it was about 5 years old. Truck ran fine for a week then sat for 3 days. Went to start it and nothing; didnt crank, just dead. Where should I start? If it was a bad alternator I don't think it would have lasted a week. Nothing new done to truck, no new lights or anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimoshel Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Something in the wiring is killing the battery. Unhook one of the bat cables. Charge the battery, Now touch the loose cable to it's post. There will be a spark. The brightness of the spark will be some indication of the drain. An amp meter will give an accurate indication. There will be a couple milliamps draw due to memory circuits but shouldn't be over 1/2 amp at most. With the amp meter still hooked up, remove one fuse at a time in the power distribution box. This will narrow down which circuit is defective. Don't overlook the possibility you got a defective battery. A simple test will determine if that is the case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 You should start by determining if any circuit is drawing down the battery. I had an internal short in the radio recently drawing the battery down after 2-3 days of sitting. Use a multimeter on the 10A scale and connect it in series with the disconnected negative mains cable of the battery and the negative battery terminal. Look for any amp reading. EDIT: Damn you Jim - UB FAST! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cody4359 Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 I'm a tard when it come to eletronics, but this seems like a good thing to know. so i connect the multimeter to the disconnected negative battery lead, and to the negative batter terminal? go ahead an laugh, as long as you clarify ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 That's correct, but you also have to observe polarity. The black (neg) meter lead goes to the battery neg terminal; the red (pos) meter lead goes to the disconnected mains cable. Current flow is through the meter using the 10A scale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cody4359 Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 cool, thank you. just cause i like to ask questions: if i put the postive meter lead (red) to the to the neg termianl, and the neg meter lead to the neg battery terminal would that make reverse polarity, and how would that affect the readings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 No problem. If meter lead polarity was reversed the meter would deflect in the opposite direction (to the left) to the needle stop and you would see no reading on the amp scale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbear Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Mine is new too, but it's also nearly frozen solid, so that's why it's not wanting to cooperate with me. :ack: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddzz1 Posted February 14, 2012 Author Share Posted February 14, 2012 Just to post the solution to my problem. It seems my glove box light was staying on. Problem fixed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 the battery in my 90 likes to fake being dead. the cables are old and not making a good connection to the terminals (yes, someday I might actually change them. maybe.). all I need to do is fiddle with it a bit and it fires right up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimoshel Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 Fiddle?? You remember what happened to Rome While their leader fiddled. :brows: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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