I replaced the battery on my 58k mile 1997, 3.4, T-100 after having starting
problems and the original battery not holding a charge. I am now having
starting problems with the new battery on occasions after the truck has been
sitting
overnight (it won’t turnover, turn off the radio a/c etc. and it usually
cranks). The shop checked out the battery and alternator and said all ok.
Anyone had similar problems or any suggestions on where to start looking for
what is draining the battery?
Thanks
It might not be a drain problem. Might just be a bad connection. I have a
battery connector that has power wires bolted to it. I was having starting
prblems also. I cleaned the battery terminals, but didn’t help till I cleaned
the connecters that are bolted to the battery connector. Clean every connection
around the battery and the starter. I used sand paper for the flat connectors.
Make sure you dont touch the connectors when you are done especially if you have
grease etc on your fingers. The oils in your fingers might also create bad
connections… eventually.
Walter wrote:
> I replaced the battery on my 58k mile 1997, 3.4, T-100 after having starting
> problems and the original battery not holding a charge. I am now having
> starting problems with the new battery on occasions after the truck has been
> sitting
> overnight (it won’t turnover, turn off the radio a/c etc. and it usually
> cranks). The shop checked out the battery and alternator and said all ok.
> Anyone had similar problems or any suggestions on where to start looking for
> what is draining the battery?
One option is to place a current meter (ammeter) between the battery +
and the the + cable then pull fuses until the current drops. That’ll
get you to the circuit, then find out what that fuse feeds and see if
you can find the problem. Is the battery actually discharged when it
won’t crank? Does the radio and lights still work and do the lights dim
when you try to crank the battery?
Thank you for the replies! I thought the symptoms indicated a bad connection
but had ruled that out since I had wire brushed the terminals and cables. I
have sandpapered the connector to the connectors (they were quite dull). If
that doesn’t solve the problem I’ll do the connections at the starter and
check to see if the battery has accually discharged, then maybe start
pulling
fuses. I’m not sure if it had any affect but it we have had several weeks of
damp weather.
Thanks again!
"Roger Brown" <r.c.br…@ieee.org> wrote in message
news:3B9C0F7B.89BC7C12@ieee.org…
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
> One option is to place a current meter (ammeter) between the battery +
> and the the + cable then pull fuses until the current drops. That’ll
> get you to the circuit, then find out what that fuse feeds and see if
> you can find the problem. Is the battery actually discharged when it
> won’t crank? Does the radio and lights still work and do the lights dim
> when you try to crank the battery?