Battery charge problems

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Offline Salthorse

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Battery charge problems
« on: January 24, 2013, 10:10:26 pm »
Good grief, another problem.

Took the car for a spin on Saturday last. Started without a problem on first turn of the key. I drove it for 15 kms, parked it for 15 minutes the when I tried to start it nothing. Had to get a jump start. Thankfully I was parked next to an auto shop. The most embarrassing thing was having it jumped by a Commodore. OK, got it home and tried to recharge the battery but no luck, the battery was pushing up the daisies. Quick trip to AutoPro and a new battery. Once installed, tuened the key and the car started on the first turn.

So now we come to today. Turned over the engine and no problem. Reversed it down the drive and parked it for 30 minutes. When I went out to take the wifr out for dinner, turned the key and nothing. After much swearing, moved the MX5 alongside and jump started the Mustang. It turned over and started immediately. Put it back in the garage but the battery is dead . . . AGAIN  :ouch:

I didn't leave the ignition switch in the LH (accessory) position, no lights were turned on, no power was driving any known accessory or function.

I had the car serviced two weeks ago and up until then I have had no problem with the battery or ignition.

What the hell is going on?

Dave

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Dave

1969 Black Jade Mach 1 with a 351C, 3v closed chamber heads, Comp Cams and lifters, FMX trans with 2500 stall converter, LSD, Edelbrock Performer 600 CFM, Sanderson ceramic shorty extractors and Flowmaster American Thunder exhaust.

2016 Deep Impact Blue GT manual with Roush exhaust.

I love it, I need it
I seed it
Eight cylinders all mine
Alright hold tight
I'm a highway star

Deep Purple, “Highway Star” (1971)

Offline Moz

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Re: Battery charge problems
« Reply #1 on: January 24, 2013, 11:24:39 pm »
Have you tested to see if it is charging?

Get a voltage gauge or multimeter and see if when you rev it,
 it goes up to 13 or more Volts for starters.

Moz
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Offline Salthorse

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Re: Battery charge problems
« Reply #2 on: January 25, 2013, 05:22:39 pm »
OK, here's the latest. Came home this afternoon, turned over the engine and vrooom, it started on the first turn. Checked the voltage (about 12.3v). Turned it off, dragged the spouse out of the house, cranked the engine over again and checked the voltage while she revved. It sat at around 11.9v and, if anything, slowly dropped to 11.86v.

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Dave

1969 Black Jade Mach 1 with a 351C, 3v closed chamber heads, Comp Cams and lifters, FMX trans with 2500 stall converter, LSD, Edelbrock Performer 600 CFM, Sanderson ceramic shorty extractors and Flowmaster American Thunder exhaust.

2016 Deep Impact Blue GT manual with Roush exhaust.

I love it, I need it
I seed it
Eight cylinders all mine
Alright hold tight
I'm a highway star

Deep Purple, “Highway Star” (1971)

Offline 66 Hertz

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Re: Battery charge problems
« Reply #3 on: January 25, 2013, 05:31:26 pm »
not enough voltage!
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Offline Moz

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Re: Battery charge problems
« Reply #4 on: January 25, 2013, 05:45:52 pm »
It's not charging mate,

What's happening is,
 as you are driving you are using power to run, coil, stop lights and anything else that runs on Electricty.

Then when you need to start the car there insn't enough reserve left in the battery,
hence the Commodore comes along.

Alternator has crapped itself or Regulator gone

Moz
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Offline Moz

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Re: Battery charge problems
« Reply #5 on: January 25, 2013, 05:56:28 pm »
If you have a multimeter
turn it to 200Volts AC or DC and test if there is power coming out of
the Alternator
Mine pushes out around 18Volts AC from memory
(my Alternator is Aftermaket, I think it's a 100Amp)

If there is voltage coming out then
put the Multimeter on 200Volts DC and
test after the Regulator and see if voltage is coming out

Next

If you have voltage 13Volt+ coming out of the Regulator
then there might be a fuse between the regulator and the battery which has blown

I don't think they had a fuse as standard but many people put them in.

Mine has been re-wired and it had a main fuse which I removed and installed
an 80Amp resetable waterproof Circuit breaker that way if she blows you just push it back in and your on your way.

Moz
« Last Edit: January 25, 2013, 05:59:36 pm by Moz »
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Offline Nobby76

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Re: Battery charge problems
« Reply #6 on: January 25, 2013, 06:22:55 pm »
Quote from: Salthorse on January 25, 2013, 05:22:39 pm
OK, here's the latest. Came home this afternoon, turned over the engine and vrooom, it started on the first turn. Checked the voltage (about 12.3v). Turned it off, dragged the spouse out of the house, cranked the engine over again and checked the voltage while she revved. It sat at around 11.9v and, if anything, slowly dropped to 11.86v.

New battery terminals fixed this on mine, was doing similar things.  Might be cheaper to try first??
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Offline scedd1

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Re: Battery charge problems
« Reply #7 on: January 25, 2013, 06:39:57 pm »
Quote from: Nobby76 on January 25, 2013, 06:22:55 pm
New battery terminals fixed this on mine, was doing similar things.  Might be cheaper to try first??

Same here.
Get the jug on and pour some hot water over your crusty posts, clean it all up with wire brush or sandpaper, new terminals (quality ones, not superdump brand)
Nice and tight and finish off with a good coat of vegemite             


(unless you have Simmons wheels as you would then use Vaseline) :lmao:

Just because the terminal is tight doesnt mean you have a good connection - it must be clean.
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Offline Salthorse

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Re: Battery charge problems
« Reply #8 on: January 25, 2013, 06:40:35 pm »
Which means the gauge on the dash cluster is cactus too as there is no indication of a problem on the gauge.
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Dave

1969 Black Jade Mach 1 with a 351C, 3v closed chamber heads, Comp Cams and lifters, FMX trans with 2500 stall converter, LSD, Edelbrock Performer 600 CFM, Sanderson ceramic shorty extractors and Flowmaster American Thunder exhaust.

2016 Deep Impact Blue GT manual with Roush exhaust.

I love it, I need it
I seed it
Eight cylinders all mine
Alright hold tight
I'm a highway star

Deep Purple, “Highway Star” (1971)

Offline Salthorse

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Salthorse
Re: Battery charge problems
« Reply #9 on: January 27, 2013, 04:58:07 pm »
It's the regulator. Easy fix.
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Dave

1969 Black Jade Mach 1 with a 351C, 3v closed chamber heads, Comp Cams and lifters, FMX trans with 2500 stall converter, LSD, Edelbrock Performer 600 CFM, Sanderson ceramic shorty extractors and Flowmaster American Thunder exhaust.

2016 Deep Impact Blue GT manual with Roush exhaust.

I love it, I need it
I seed it
Eight cylinders all mine
Alright hold tight
I'm a highway star

Deep Purple, “Highway Star” (1971)

Offline Moz

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Re: Battery charge problems
« Reply #10 on: January 27, 2013, 05:55:22 pm »
Awesome
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Offline Salthorse

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Salthorse
Re: Battery charge problems
« Reply #11 on: January 27, 2013, 07:59:28 pm »
Now to deal with the instrument cluster  :ouch:
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Dave

1969 Black Jade Mach 1 with a 351C, 3v closed chamber heads, Comp Cams and lifters, FMX trans with 2500 stall converter, LSD, Edelbrock Performer 600 CFM, Sanderson ceramic shorty extractors and Flowmaster American Thunder exhaust.

2016 Deep Impact Blue GT manual with Roush exhaust.

I love it, I need it
I seed it
Eight cylinders all mine
Alright hold tight
I'm a highway star

Deep Purple, “Highway Star” (1971)

Offline Salthorse

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Salthorse
Re: Battery charge problems
« Reply #12 on: January 27, 2013, 08:04:36 pm »
However, having just read the  Instrument Panel Trouble Shooting link here, perhaps there is no way to fix the ammeter problem.   :ouch: :ouch: :ouch:
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Dave

1969 Black Jade Mach 1 with a 351C, 3v closed chamber heads, Comp Cams and lifters, FMX trans with 2500 stall converter, LSD, Edelbrock Performer 600 CFM, Sanderson ceramic shorty extractors and Flowmaster American Thunder exhaust.

2016 Deep Impact Blue GT manual with Roush exhaust.

I love it, I need it
I seed it
Eight cylinders all mine
Alright hold tight
I'm a highway star

Deep Purple, “Highway Star” (1971)

Offline Moz

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Moz
Re: Battery charge problems
« Reply #13 on: January 27, 2013, 11:37:14 pm »
My Amp meter doesn't work either and I personally think they are a useless gauge.

I am currently experimenting on converting another Mustang gauge to a Voltmeter
so that it bolts into the dash like it was original.

If my idea works I will probably market them.

Moz
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Offline Salthorse

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Salthorse
Re: Battery charge problems
« Reply #14 on: January 28, 2013, 09:42:45 am »
Hi Moz

Keep us informed on how the experiment goes.

Dave
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Dave

1969 Black Jade Mach 1 with a 351C, 3v closed chamber heads, Comp Cams and lifters, FMX trans with 2500 stall converter, LSD, Edelbrock Performer 600 CFM, Sanderson ceramic shorty extractors and Flowmaster American Thunder exhaust.

2016 Deep Impact Blue GT manual with Roush exhaust.

I love it, I need it
I seed it
Eight cylinders all mine
Alright hold tight
I'm a highway star

Deep Purple, “Highway Star” (1971)

Offline Moz

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Moz
Re: Battery charge problems
« Reply #15 on: January 28, 2013, 11:11:20 am »
Quote from: Salthorse on January 28, 2013, 09:42:45 am
Hi Moz

Keep us informed on how the experiment goes.

Dave

No probs mate,

It's something I have been meaning to do for ages
I remember back in the '70's those Amp gauges were useless and nothing but trouble
and I think from memory they even cause some fires in car
that is probably why they stopped using them.

Moz
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