Battery opps, Alternator question
Submitted: Saturday, Nov 18, 2006 at 19:36
ThreadID:
39560
Views:
2829
Replies:
6
FollowUps:
3
This Thread has been Archived
Noldi
Bugger, Number one son tried to jump start his old nissan with my jumper pack.
Connected wrong way around. Fortunatly did not damage my jumper pack;-) however strange things afoot.
Charged battery overnight, started vehicle ok. but stopped about 25 min later and would not start (flat as a tack).
3 questions:
1 what voltage should the battery be when fully charged? (I have a multi meter)
2 how can you tell if the alternators working?
3 Connecting it back to front like he did, what is the most likly damage?
What really cheesed me off is I towed him about 1km and he run over my new bushranger strap and wrecked it.
Last question anyone what to adopt a fully grown lad
Rgds
Ian
Reply By: Member - Andrew W (SA) - Saturday, Nov 18, 2006 at 19:41
Saturday, Nov 18, 2006 at 19:41
I'd guess the regulator's stuffed ... the battery started the vehicle so most of the battery is working (perhaps one cell is dead leaving you with just 12V or so but enough to start it), but the regulator being stuffed, or alternator fused (I would expect that to make a noise though), the battery is not getting charged and so with no battery and no generated electricity (assuming it's a diesel) it will eventually stop.
AnswerID:
205643
Reply By: Geoff (Newcastle, NSW) - Saturday, Nov 18, 2006 at 19:47
Saturday, Nov 18, 2006 at 19:47
1 what voltage should the battery be when fully charged? (I have a multi meter)
I'd be happy with 12.5 volts.
2 how can you tell if the alternators working?
12.5 volts across the battery with the engine off, somewhere about 14.5 volts with the engine running, give it a bit of a rev.
3 Connecting it back to front like he did, what is the most likly damage?
bleep loads! Couple of shagged batteries.
Geoff.
| Geoff,
Grey hair is hereditary, you get it from children. Baldness is caused by watching the Wallabies.
Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog Send Message |
AnswerID:
205645
Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Saturday, Nov 18, 2006 at 19:52
Saturday, Nov 18, 2006 at 19:52
#1 Battery should be 12.7-12.8 volts when fully charged and no load on teh battery.
#2 Connect multimeter to battery, and check voltage. Then start the vehicle, and monitor the voltage over the next couple of minutes. The voltage will drop when starting, and may stay low if its a diesel with glow plugs, then when the glow plugs go out, the voltage should rise to about 14 volts. Also check the fusible links which are attached to the pos terminal lead
AnswerID:
205646
Reply By: Noldi - Saturday, Nov 18, 2006 at 19:57
Saturday, Nov 18, 2006 at 19:57
Thanks guys,
will go and check, how can you check the regulator?
would the vehicle start at all if the fusable liks were gone?
will end up taking it to an auto spatky but would like to be informed. Its petrol.
Kids who'd ave em,
Rgds
Ian
AnswerID:
205648
Follow Up By: Redeye - Sunday, Nov 19, 2006 at 06:52
Sunday, Nov 19, 2006 at 06:52
Noldi,
Are there any warning lights on the dash when you turn the ignition key on.
If the answer is yes and it extinguishes when the vehicle is started. (not regulator)
If the answer is NO your regulator is stuffed.
You also may have some diodes faulty.
Check voltages as per other responses.
May need a auto electrician. Hope you are friendly with the bank manager. Some regulators for Nissan are in the $500 area if genuine units are used (my regulator died last month).
Redeye
FollowupID:
465653
Reply By: Luke SA - Sunday, Nov 19, 2006 at 10:32
Sunday, Nov 19, 2006 at 10:32
About 10 years ago when i got my first car I hooked up the jumper leads the wrong way around on a HQ holden (my first car). it wasnt hooked up for long and the wiring under the bonnet started smoking. When I looked at the wiring it had all melted together and was stuffed.
I hope thats not your case but maybe somthing to think about Good Luck
Cheers Luke
AnswerID:
205719
Reply By: Noldi - Sunday, Nov 19, 2006 at 11:29
Sunday, Nov 19, 2006 at 11:29
Hi Guys, thanks for the feedback,
Checked voltage today, battery charged up to around 12.6 volts overnight.
started ok, voltage started to drop(slowly).
I tried the same on Jack and as you've said when engine starts it jumps upto 14.5v.
Have noticed when turning the ignition on symptoms in in the cab vary, sometimes no dash indicators, radio blinkers, next attempt some dash lights and radio and blinkers working, then next attempt everything stops working. Bad news whichever way you read it.
Time to give the auto sparky a christmas present.
Thanks again
Ian
AnswerID:
205732
Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Sunday, Nov 19, 2006 at 12:07
Sunday, Nov 19, 2006 at 12:07
Noldi,
May be worth checking the battery connections.
Clean them with a wire brush (both post and clamps) and retighten.
From your description of the symptoms, the voltage is too low. It may be nothing more than a poor connection, but also could be a dodgy battery. If the battery voltage started to drop after starting, there may be a damaged cell or cells in it.
If it is a standard unsealed "wet cell" battery, you can check the specific gravity of each cell with a cheap hydrometer from KMart, Supercheap, etc. If one cell measures low, chuck the battery and invest in a new one.
FollowupID:
465681
Follow Up By: Rigor - Monday, Nov 20, 2006 at 08:51
Monday, Nov 20, 2006 at 08:51
Hi Noldi , from what you just explained my money would be on a stuffed regulater . It is pretty hard to destroy the alternater and you could think of the reg as a fusible link for the atlternator when the voltage is reversed . How long were the leads reversed ? just a splash or did he get it clamped good and proper?
A new regulator should be under $100.
Cheers Dave L.
FollowupID:
465812