JA5ONS

Guys,
I was driving with a very flat battery, when it got to the point that my car was acting like it was out of fuel...
i will admit, it was directly after a thrashing, when, my speed alert turned off, fuel guage said empty (it had excessive in the tank), my electric windows wouldnt work.. so pretty much.. i was driving and the car had no power, and stalled in the middle of no-where
we went home and got jumper leads, more fuel and a tow rope (my mate was in another car)
we put more fuel in it (just to be sure).. jumped it and it was great..
drove 10k home and as we got in the driveway, it did the same thing... the car had no power at the wheels.. and it stalled again like it had no fuel.. yet.. i know there was heaps.
I jumped it again at home, drove it about 20m into the garage and it stalled again as i stopped..
so in short.
I have a very flat battery, yet my car is acting like it has no fuel...
I start to think fuel pump isn't getting power either, hence it acting like its got no fuel.
but my car has done 300k this week, and should have a good charge in it.
so would i be thinking alternator and the thrashing was just co-incidental?

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Woodsy

The alternator should supply the power to keep things running once the motor is going. The positive clamp actually popped off my VZ a couple of weeks ago (long story) and I didn't even know until I got home and tried to lock the doors. Might be worth checking that out before you go buying a new battery.

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JA5ONS

thats why im thinking my alternator is sick,
the positive clamp is still on there (actually not any more as the battery is on charge, but yea)
or is there a positive clamp on the alternator?
the battery is pretty new aswell.

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JA5ONS

well, a fully charged battery and all seems to be well. I let it run for a 15mins and didnt miss a beat.
if it happens again, i will look into the power that the alternator is putting out...
im still very suspect on it.

unelss someone could throw another thought into the equation.

cheers for the help woodsy.

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BossHoggett

why don't you check to output via a multimeter ?
wouldn't that be obvious first.

and once the battery drops below about 9 volts the CDI fails hence the ingition drops cylinders and it coughs and farts.

JA5ONS

multimeter is at work..
otherwise yes.. deffinitly.
9volts you say... i will keep monitoring the battery as the car gets used.
can excessive dust (dirt roads) cause anything like this?

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CK_318

well actually once the battery voltage drops below 10.5V is when you start to get in trouble. optimally it should be at about 13.5 but i'd have to go back through my text books to confirm that. all i know is its not exactly 12 volts anyway

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dr.legal

Jason

Take the leads off the battery and have a close look at them. I've seen where the terminals actually get a glaze where they bolt to the battery and for some reason the charge doesn't get through. Give them a scrape and a clean up and see how you go. Also check the earth lead where it goes to the body and the engine. Make sure they are nice and clean as well. Use a bit of santpaper to clean them up.
On the back of the alternator there is a heavier wire that goes to the battery. Just check the voltage there while running. It should be between about 13.5 as CK said but preferably no more than 14.6 volts. You need more than 12 volts output to charge the battery. Your PC isn't draining it too much is it? Maybe a larger alternator may be in order if that's the problem.

doc

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JA5ONS

Cheers Joe and Doc.
when i get the multimeter tomorrow i will go through and check all the voltages.
as for the pc.. no but yes...
That has been in the back of my mind, as the PC runs off my aux battery.. BUT my alternator charges that battery when i flick the switch (most of the time the car is running)
so the aux battery wont drain the main unless the ignition is on, and i have the switch flicked.
but could the alternator shit itself because i have worked it too hard?
i will check the voltages and connections tomorrow night.
Cheers again guys.

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dr.legal

It's possible. When we had the BA smart car (the blue Ford ones) we went through 3 alternators in less than 60,000 k's. Ford said that it was because of the extral equipment drain stressing the alternator.
I remember once when I was stationary blocking an intersection for about 5 hours with the police lights and a/c running. The engine was running but as soon as I put it into drive, the car stalled and had a flat battery. I'm not an auto elec but sounds very much like the problem you've got. We didn't put in another alternator, just got rid of the car.

doc

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JA5ONS

hahaha
if only the state goverment payed for my replacment car

cheers for that doc.
we'll see what i uncover tomorrow.

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dr.legal

I wish they bought mine as well but they don't. Only for work use. I've currently got 3 cars and only 2 licenced people in the house. Still trying to sell the ute.

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toryman

U are right woodsy, but i remember when i had my old VP, if i took any lead off a battery terminal while it was running the car would stall, ive never come accross that before or since, in any car. Jase, u dont leave the stereo going while working on it hence the flat battery, do u?

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JA5ONS

na mate, not that it should matter though, as the battery that the stereo is on, is 100% isolated from the main battery, unless the car is running.
yeah i think the car stalls if i remove a terminal... i know one of my cars has done that.. either the old VB, or this..
i still need to get the multimeter onto it, had footy training tonight, got home, showerd and went to bed.. where i am now..
but if the car stalls with the battery disconected, that would mean that i cant check the power the alternator is putting out?
because, if the positive is connected when im metering the voltage, than i would be metering the battery level.
or am i missing something?

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toryman

No because the alternator only works when the motors running so thats the only time u can test its output unless u pull it of and take it to an auto elec or have the equipment yourself. P.S. I reckon u will find the ute will stall if u disconnect a terminal but ur old VB wouldnt have, thats my experience anyway. Anyone know why?

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