Battery Problems??

[Explor2Exped]

I noticed after I unhooked the battery to reset my CEL then hooked it back up everything was brighter & the windows rolled up a lot quicker.

When I roll down the windows my headlights dim down. Could this mean a weak battery?

I posted up a thread before that from just leaving my doors open for a few minutes the battery would die right now. I could charge it right back up again & it works alright.

If ya guys think I need a new battery what are some good choices? The batteries that you guys mainly use.

Thanks!

 

[ExpyPlowGuy]

Right now I'm using a Napa battery, but I'm also a fan of Interstate batteries. Just make sure it's a battery issue and not the alternator, don't want to waste money!

 

[GAINMOB]

sears die hard...it could be the battery since its dimming...normally a good sign especially if you have an audio system...or the alternator is bad/going bad and draining it...

 

[Explor2Exped]

How can I find out if my alternator is bad?

 

[panda24619]

your truck run fine? can you go on long cruises? then its not your alt. plain and simple. your batt can only power these trucks for so long. i KNOW i need a new battery. i keep the doors open for a few mins and it dies. but also when you roll the windows down its not bad that your lights dim. they just use a lot of juice to work.

 

[Explor2Exped]

your truck run fine? can you go on long cruises? then its not your alt. plain and simple. your batt can only power these trucks for so long. i KNOW i need a new battery. i keep the doors open for a few mins and it dies. but also when you roll the windows down its not bad that your lights dim. they just use a lot of juice to work.

Yeah I went on like 4 trips today. The truck runs great. I just gave it an oil change also & sprayed down the MAF which supposedly gives an extra 15hp.

I believe it because my expy has been accelerating wicked fast lately.

 

[panda24619]

so instead of starting a new thread. heres my problem. my beauty has been sitting for 2 day. in the street. well me and my gf were going to go for a cruise tonight. i look at my volt meter it reads LO. im like ****! its below 10Vs. my battery is draining its self. could it be that im low on water? my dad says it might be. how should i go about filling it? i know distilled water only too. should i just pop the tops with the battery still connected? or do i need to take the battery out? and if that dosent do it. well i get paid tomorrow. so this weekend imma go get a new deep cycle battery.

 

[walnuts4x4]

to test the ALT... start the truck... then disconnect the battery... if it dies... alt is bad... battery is really only for starting the vehicle... ALT is for running the truck

 

[Thermo]

To test the alternator, all you need to do is to simply start the truck, connect a multimeter across the battery and then turn on the A/C on high (both front and rear fans) and also the headlights. This will be about a 60 amp load on the alternator (putting it up near max load based on the truck being near idle speed). If the multimeter is still reading 13.7 VDC or higher, then the alternator is good. If it falls to under 12.6 VDC (ie, some power is being pulled out of the battery), then you know your alternator has some issue.

I'm not a big fan of pulling apart wires under load. THis can lead to issues and at a minimum some arcs and sparks which is not good on the terminals if done over and over.

If you need more info, let me know.

 

[panda24619]

To test the alternator, all you need to do is to simply start the truck, connect a multimeter across the battery and then turn on the A/C on high (both front and rear fans) and also the headlights. This will be about a 60 amp load on the alternator (putting it up near max load based on the truck being near idle speed). If the multimeter is still reading 13.7 VDC or higher, then the alternator is good. If it falls to under 12.6 VDC (ie, some power is being pulled out of the battery), then you know your alternator has some issue.

I'm not a big fan of pulling apart wires under load. THis can lead to issues and at a minimum some arcs and sparks which is not good on the terminals if done over and over.

If you need more info, let me know.

yes. what about my problem. battery kills its self. i let the truck sit for more than a day and its dead. under 10Vs according to my volt meter. just need a new batt? or can i add some water and it be fine?