New battery time?

[timmay556]

Done a search and can't find much. The battery in my TD42 is turning over slowly when cold especially if it hasn't been used for say 2 days, but it always makes it... JUST. Is it a sign I need a new one?. Battery is about 2 years old now.

[Colinl]

Does it start easier after a drive?

[timmay556]

Yeah it does. I however dont think its because the car is warm but because the battery has had a jolt of life -- the green "light" on the battery is pretty much always dim.

Also, I had an issue with a relay to an old shitty aftermarket horn that took me a while to track down, it was constantly drawing amps from the battery even when the car was off, this caused me to run the battery flat twice when it was new ish, would this have shortend the life of the battery?

[muddy]

There could also be another failed relay causing a constant drain. But your symptoms are consistent with a dying battery also. To be sure - I'd suggest disconnecting the battery for a day or 2, then see if it's still sluggish to start. If so - battery problem, if not then there is a drain somewhere. Note that if you have a 24V truck you need to replace both batteries as a set so it's an expensive exercise...

[mudlva]

There could also be another failed relay causing a constant drain. But your symptoms are consistent with a dying battery also. To be sure - I'd suggest disconnecting the battery for a day or 2, then see if it's still sluggish to start. If so - battery problem, if not then there is a drain somewhere. Note that if you have a 24V truck you need to replace both batteries as a set so it's an expensive exercise...

also two years is not very long for a set of batteries.

do you use an electric winch?
or do a lot of night driving with big arse spotties on for long periods?

cause if you do i think you need to up grade both the alternator and bigger batteries as a set

if not you have a serious voltage drain going on i there somewhere

another thought is are you running 12v off one battery only? as that will kill the battery set as well

[timmay556]

Hey guys, she's a 12v with no accessories, prtitty much a bog standard truck. Good idea about disconnecting the battery for a few days and see how she spins up. I will check that out before buying.

To track down a voltage leak is that the same way I tracked down the faulty relay? Ie pull the positive lead off the battery and put my volt meter on Ohms and start unplugging stuff?

[wjw]

Set the meter to Volts. measure the battery voltage before you go to bed, then measure again in the morning. Should be almost no difference as there should just be the clock and the radio memory drawing power.

[skidmark]

To measure current draw move your lead over to the amp position and disconnect a battery lead.set the meter in series between the lead and battery.. I normally allow up to .09amp for a regular passnger vehicle.

If thats ok, set your meter back to volts and cheak charging. 13.5 is the minimum really.

Cheak volts before you start in the morning to help identify weather you hve a flat or faulty battery. 12.6 volts is a charged battery.

Hopefully that makes sense.

[timmay556]

I've done it a few times now, it drops from 12.39v (fresh after turning it off from driving home) to 12.09 ish, but in the morning still slow to turn over - also the voltage meter on the dash drops to 8v when the Glow Plugs are glowing the next morning.

[skidmark]

Whats voltage accross battery with engine running?

[timmay556]

14.02v
Cheers

[Crash bandicoot]

If doing alot of short trips get a lead acid battery. They charge up quicker after being discharged. Sealed batteries with the "green light" are just as good life and cranking wise but take longer to charge hence parked or lots of short trips will see it slowly keep less and less charge unless its a long run.

[timmay556]

it is one of those sealed green light ones, Thats a good tip.

So sounds like new bat time?

[timmay556]

Here is the amp draw.

[skidmark]

20160725_173927-1024x1820.jpg


Here is the amp draw.

Thats exessive...0.05 is ok.

Start chassing and disconnecting stuff..cheak interior light's..then pull fuses one at a time to try trace circuit thats at fault

[timmay556]

20160725_173927-1024x1820.jpg


Here is the amp draw.

Thats exessive...0.05 is ok.

Start chassing and disconnecting stuff..cheak interior light's..then pull fuses one at a time to try trace circuit thats at fault

Thanks Skid, my volt meter just died after that photo (its 13 years old - cheapie from DSE) will have to buy a new one tomorrow and try again.

How do I test if its the internal lights? as it does do a funny thing ie when one door is open they all go on.

[skidmark]

20160725_173927-1024x1820.jpg


Here is the amp draw.

Thats exessive...0.05 is ok.

Start chassing and disconnecting stuff..cheak interior light's..then pull fuses one at a time to try trace circuit thats at fault

Thanks Skid, my volt meter just died after that photo (its 13 years old - cheapie from DSE) will have to buy a new one tomorrow and try again.

How do I test if its the internal lights? as it does do a funny thing ie when one door is open they all go on.

As long as they turn off it should be ok,perhaps somewhere along the lines allthe door switches have been linked for an alarm

[timmay556]

As long as they turn off it should be ok,perhaps somewhere along the lines allthe door switches have been linked for an alarm

They dont turn off by pushing their buttons - only by closing the door. Yep there is an alarm fitted.

[MihiT]

As long as they turn off it should be ok,perhaps somewhere along the lines allthe door switches have been linked for an alarm

In my experience door switches are done on the negative side of the circuit, ie, if any point goes to ground, the lights come on.

In that picture you're reading microamperes. I'd flip it around to the 10A, put the lead in that hole and read like that.
Half a microamp is nothing to worry about.

[skidmark]

As long as they turn off it should be ok,perhaps somewhere along the lines allthe door switches have been linked for an alarm

In my experience door switches are done on the negative side of the circuit, ie, if any point goes to ground, the lights come on.

In that picture you're reading microamperes. I'd flip it around to the 10A, put the lead in that hole and read like that.
Half a microamp is nothing to worry about.

I should have looked to the meter closer..thats very correct.

When youve got a working meter again chuck it in the 10amp scale.

[wjw]

my volt meter just died after that photo (its 13 years old - cheapie from DSE) will have to buy a new one tomorrow and try again.

Take the back off the meter. its probably just a fuse.

[timmay556]

You lot are bloody helpful.

I checked and it was just the fuse, however I've taken this opportunity to treat myself to a new one.

I see you re correct, it was on milli settings, I will try again tonight with it set on 10. If that's the case and it is just 0.05 amps then I think it's new bat time.

[MihiT]

I'll have your old batteries if you have no other use for em

[MihiT]

I've done it a few times now, it drops from 12.39v (fresh after turning it off from driving home) to 12.09 ish, but in the morning still slow to turn over - also the voltage meter on the dash drops to 8v when the Glow Plugs are glowing the next morning.

I missed this, definitely sounds like it's poked, dropping 4V is 1/3 of your power.
12.39 doesn't sound like it's getting the berries when charging either, typical float voltage would be 14.4

[timmay556]

Again thank you guys. I've done the test again with my shiny new multimeter, 0.06 draw. So off to get a new bat tomorrow

[timmay556]

I replaced the sealed battery with the blue one recommend by exide, acid, only drops.to 10v when glowing and starts much easier.
Cheers

[skid]

Now that you have a new meter.

Put it across terminals whilst car is running to check the voltage.

You stated above that it was 12.39 after turning car off and as someone else has mentioned, that is not ideal.

Sounds like the alternator may be a bit weak

[timmay556]

14.02 when running.

[Colinl]

I had similar problems in my 24v safari with low voltage.

Things I've done to solve it.

New fat charge wire from alt to battery (60a mega fuse inline).
New Sense wire direct to battery from alternator
New fat earth wire direct to block.

Went from 27v to 28.2v.

Another thing I've done is change pulley to a 73mm to increase alt speed.