kansascity1 Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 I have problems with my charging system I believe. I don't know if it's wired wrong or what. I recently relocated the battery to the bed. The only thing different I did from the way it was is, instead of the 10 gauge wire coming from my battery to the firewall I tied the wire from the firewall into the terminal on the starter where the hot off the battery goes. I ran 4 gauge from the battery to the starter and I ran a 4 gauge ground from the battery to the frame. Also a 4 gauge ground from the block to the frame. I'm not sure if the battery is getting any charge. After I jumped it today and let it run for a while (30 minutes) and drove it around the block, I pulled it in the garage and turned the lights on. As soon as I pulled the knob for the lights it killed it, and it wouldn't do shit after that. If anyone has any clue what I could have done wrong please let me know. I thought it could be my battery, but I'm not sure. I do know my battery is shot though. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Sounds like it's wired OK. Are the connections tight and clean? Fan belt tight? Quote Link to comment
Pacific coast Datsun Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Could be a bad alternator. Quote Link to comment
kansascity1 Posted December 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 I put a new battery in it, started it and disconnected the battery. The truck stayed running, until I turned the lights on, it died instantly. Hooked the battery back up, restarted in and turn the lights on with the battery connected, no problem there. If I turn my air compressor on with the battery connected it works, no battery no workie, and kills the truck. Then I started wiggling wires off the alternator and tried the lights again with the battery disconnected and it worked and I was reading 14.5 volts on the battery cable. I found wires exposed coming off the alternator. Probably a big portion of my problem. It still won't hold my compressor though, unless the battery is connected. Then it is strictly drawing off the battery. I am going to have to upgrade to a Saturn alternator to do what I want. My compressor draws around 70 amps I believe. Hopefully replacing that wire will solve my problem running the accessories and charging the battery. Quote Link to comment
banzai510(hainz) Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 truck will die if you turn the lights on.This is normal if battery is disconneted after starting. best alwasy to get a volt meter of some kind/ a stardard gauge or a cheap LED system it helps give a indication before some thing goes bad. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 It is never a good idea to run with the battery disconnected as it prevents voltage spikes that could harm any electronics. My old Cutlass was unconnected once and when I reved it up, the headlights lit up briefly like someone was arc welding. Wow that was close. Quote Link to comment
kansascity1 Posted December 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 It is never a good idea to run with the battery disconnected That was simply a test to see if the alternator was the problem. It was dieing with the old battery connected. Just doing some easy type testing before I dug out the multimeter. Quote Link to comment
hang_510 Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 Are the connections tight and clean? X2 especially around the starter, the connections from the alt to the battery power, and around the block you added. Quote Link to comment
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