dead battery
03-18-2006, 08:37 AM
#1
Advanced
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: north wales,colwyn bay
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
dead battery
around 2 months ago i had my alternator rebuilt, i use my 928 every day but last night the voltage meter droped to just 10 volts ,so i took the car home ,but in the morning the battery is totaly dead ,is it the battery ? or more alternator problems?
03-18-2006, 11:29 AM
#2
Burning Brakes
Charge up the battery and take the battery to a shop that can load test it. That should tell you if the battery is the issue. If it is not, with the fully charged battery, start the engine and check the voltage using a meter at various points in the system. It could easily be a wiring problem rather than an alternator problem.
03-18-2006, 02:41 PM
#4
Rennlist Member
What year car? If it's an early car with only an exciter bulb(no resistor), a burned bulb in the cluster can prevent the alternator from charging. This could be the case on later cars as well, but it's less certain. When you first turn the key to the "On" position, does the red light with the battery icon light up? If not, that bulb could be blown or the small wire disconnected from the alternator. Either issue would mean no charge.
If it lights up and stays on with the car running, your alternator may be toast(though that small wire could be shorted to ground, which means your alternator could be OK). Also, if the light stays on when running, it could be a broken alternator belt.
If it lights up and stays on with the car running, your alternator may be toast(though that small wire could be shorted to ground, which means your alternator could be OK). Also, if the light stays on when running, it could be a broken alternator belt.
03-18-2006, 07:27 PM
#5
Rennlist Member
so many questions..... if you have an amp meter and know how to use it. turn the car off and see if you have drain when the ign is off. this will explain the dead battery in the morning.
03-18-2006, 08:25 PM
#6
Instructor
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Check Battery Voltage Now (likely to be low).
Charge Battery and Check Voltage (Should be 12.5 +/-).
Start Car--with Alternator running Voltage should be 13.5 + a bit.
Now Turn on Headlights, stereo, blower, etc. Voltage should stay stable at the 13.5.
If the Voltage drops significantly while running, the alternator or other charging system component may be bad.
I'm working on my BMW E30 318is now....the battery reads just under 12 volts after sitting, but can't retain enough power to crank the engine...after trying to crank, voltage drops to 8 or 9 volts. Once the car is running, it reads 13.9v at the Battery (i.e. the alternator attempting to charge the battery), and with all the lights on, etc. it is 13.7v (still charging). So, I know I have a bad battery...just need to find an Interstate dealer and see if it is still under warrantee (per the PO, not much more than 1 year old).
AFARR
Charge Battery and Check Voltage (Should be 12.5 +/-).
Start Car--with Alternator running Voltage should be 13.5 + a bit.
Now Turn on Headlights, stereo, blower, etc. Voltage should stay stable at the 13.5.
If the Voltage drops significantly while running, the alternator or other charging system component may be bad.
I'm working on my BMW E30 318is now....the battery reads just under 12 volts after sitting, but can't retain enough power to crank the engine...after trying to crank, voltage drops to 8 or 9 volts. Once the car is running, it reads 13.9v at the Battery (i.e. the alternator attempting to charge the battery), and with all the lights on, etc. it is 13.7v (still charging). So, I know I have a bad battery...just need to find an Interstate dealer and see if it is still under warrantee (per the PO, not much more than 1 year old).
AFARR
Trending Topics
03-19-2006, 09:10 AM
#8
Team Owner
Hi Dan it sounds like you have a stuck relay or a light staying on, go to 928gt.com and get a fuse panel printout for your car ,disconnect the battery and charge it, never charge battery while it is connected to the car unless your using a trickle charger.
After the battery is charged roll down the window and close the doors see if you have the inside light on look down the inside of the door to see the red light it should be off,if not then remove the pin switches from the doors , clean the contacts and replace them also take a look at the rear hatch lock this has a switch in it as well and while your at it go to the passenger side of the car (right) under the hood and make shure that the hood switch near the cross brace is working.
If none of these things help then with the battery connected and charged get in car start it let it run , move the seat back on the side that the fuse panel is on close the doors shut the car off and without opening any of the doors start pulling relays you may be contorted to do this with out the doors open but you will probably find a relay that makes a click when it is removed, this is where to start remove all of the relays after you label them and check the part numbers with the 928gt chart , if there are no relays that make a sound then it is time to connect the multi meter to the battery and ground strap, then disconnect the ground and start pulling fuses till you see the draw go away, this is the hardest part to connect the multi meter without opening the doors or hatch as this could turn off the malfunctioning relay , Also is the car parked outside where it can get wet,if so then I would close the fuse panel and look up see the plastic grate over the fuse panel this is the bottom of the blower assembly, after the car ages the caulking sealant dries out and will let water drip into the fuse panel any realy that you remove that has any sign of corrosion should be opened up to verify that it is not all contaminated inside, goodluck,..... Stan
After the battery is charged roll down the window and close the doors see if you have the inside light on look down the inside of the door to see the red light it should be off,if not then remove the pin switches from the doors , clean the contacts and replace them also take a look at the rear hatch lock this has a switch in it as well and while your at it go to the passenger side of the car (right) under the hood and make shure that the hood switch near the cross brace is working.
If none of these things help then with the battery connected and charged get in car start it let it run , move the seat back on the side that the fuse panel is on close the doors shut the car off and without opening any of the doors start pulling relays you may be contorted to do this with out the doors open but you will probably find a relay that makes a click when it is removed, this is where to start remove all of the relays after you label them and check the part numbers with the 928gt chart , if there are no relays that make a sound then it is time to connect the multi meter to the battery and ground strap, then disconnect the ground and start pulling fuses till you see the draw go away, this is the hardest part to connect the multi meter without opening the doors or hatch as this could turn off the malfunctioning relay , Also is the car parked outside where it can get wet,if so then I would close the fuse panel and look up see the plastic grate over the fuse panel this is the bottom of the blower assembly, after the car ages the caulking sealant dries out and will let water drip into the fuse panel any realy that you remove that has any sign of corrosion should be opened up to verify that it is not all contaminated inside, goodluck,..... Stan
03-19-2006, 09:25 AM
#9
Team Owner
Hi Dan it sounds like you have a stuck relay or a light staying on, go to 928gt.com and get a fuse panel printout for your car ,disconnect the battery and charge it, never charge battery while it is connected to the car unless your using a trickle charger.
After the battery is charged roll down the window and close the doors see if you have the inside light on look down the inside of the door to see the red light it should be off,if not then remove the pin switches from the doors , clean the contacts and replace them also take a look at the rear hatch lock this has a switch in it as well and while your at it go to the passenger side of the car (right) under the hood and make shure that the hood switch near the cross brace is working.
If none of these things help then with the battery connected and charged get in car start it let it run , move the seat back on the side that the fuse panel is on close the doors shut the car off and without opening any of the doors start pulling relays you may be contorted to do this with out the doors open but you will probably find a relay that makes a click when it is removed, this is where to start remove all of the relays after you label them and check the part numbers with the 928gt chart , if there are no relays that make a sound then it is time to connect the multi meter to the battery and ground strap, then disconnect the ground and start pulling fuses till you see the draw go away, this is the hardest part to connect the multi meter without opening the doors or hatch as this could turn off the malfunctioning relay , Also is the car parked outside where it can get wet,if so then I would close the fuse panel and look up see the plastic grate over the fuse panel this is the bottom of the blower assembly, after the car ages the caulking sealant dries out and will let water drip into the fuse panel any realy that you remove that has any sign of corrosion should be opened up to verify that it is not all contaminated inside, goodluck,..... Stan
After the battery is charged roll down the window and close the doors see if you have the inside light on look down the inside of the door to see the red light it should be off,if not then remove the pin switches from the doors , clean the contacts and replace them also take a look at the rear hatch lock this has a switch in it as well and while your at it go to the passenger side of the car (right) under the hood and make shure that the hood switch near the cross brace is working.
If none of these things help then with the battery connected and charged get in car start it let it run , move the seat back on the side that the fuse panel is on close the doors shut the car off and without opening any of the doors start pulling relays you may be contorted to do this with out the doors open but you will probably find a relay that makes a click when it is removed, this is where to start remove all of the relays after you label them and check the part numbers with the 928gt chart , if there are no relays that make a sound then it is time to connect the multi meter to the battery and ground strap, then disconnect the ground and start pulling fuses till you see the draw go away, this is the hardest part to connect the multi meter without opening the doors or hatch as this could turn off the malfunctioning relay , Also is the car parked outside where it can get wet,if so then I would close the fuse panel and look up see the plastic grate over the fuse panel this is the bottom of the blower assembly, after the car ages the caulking sealant dries out and will let water drip into the fuse panel any realy that you remove that has any sign of corrosion should be opened up to verify that it is not all contaminated inside, goodluck,..... Stan