Batteries or Alternator???

[FORGE1]

I just went to go and use the safari today to find that it wouldnt start

Crash started it and got it running.

Went for a long drive to get some charge in it and then went to bunnings and 5min later I went to start t and it wouldnt start.

Got it home and turned it off it started did this a few times all good. Went and checked the batteries one showed (red) which on the indicator needs to be recharged (dead) and the otherside battery is (black) needs to have a small charge. With both batteries needing to be (Green) to be fully charged.

Soooo my questions is if both batteries go dead does that mean the alternator isnt charging or just becasue one battery is dead its draining the other one?

and 20min later it still starts so Im unsure on what it could be.

Any idea's

[badnuz]

sounds like one bad battery... do you dive it regularly? the Calcium style mainatnce free need decent (read hi) current to keep them fully charged. if your not driving it evry day or so then the batteries will just be slowly draining away. it may suggest your alternator needs an overhaul but i would suggest you get it professionaly checked

and if you need new batteries fit good ole lead acids, they can handle low rpm low voltage chaging etc etc

my thoughts anyway

[kbushnz]

First thing to check is the alternator output, make sure its sending the correct charging voltage.
Then connections.
Then if that's all good, the batteries could be on the way out.

As you are 24V and use two batteries, pays to change them in pairs.

Calvin

[muddy]

Do you have anything like stereo, air pump, etc running 12V taken from just one battery? That'll cause overcharging of the other and and kill it over time. Need to use 24V feed through a reducer to keep an even drain on both batteries

[FORGE1]

sounds like one bad battery... do you dive it regularly? the Calcium style mainatnce free need decent (read hi) current to keep them fully charged. if your not driving it evry day or so then the batteries will just be slowly draining away. it may suggest your alternator needs an overhaul but i would suggest you get it professionaly checked

and if you need new batteries fit good ole lead acids, they can handle low rpm low voltage chaging etc etc

my thoughts anyway

Ok sweet yeah thats my thoughts. I use it once every couple of days and its always started sweet as. It started sweet as this morning and is running and the guages are back to normal but the indicator guages are still the same so might pay to put them back on a slow charge over night to get some charge back into them. I prefer the old lead acid batteries for that same reason.

First thing to check is the alternator output, make sure its sending the correct charging voltage.
Then connections.
Then if that's all good, the batteries could be on the way out.

As you are 24V and use two batteries, pays to change them in pairs.

Calvin

Yeah I might get a mates volt meter as I dont have one. Yeah I know the connections on one of the batteries werent the best so I re did that one and one of the batteries are new and the other one looks about 12months old

Do you have anything like stereo, air pump, etc running 12V taken from just one battery? That'll cause overcharging of the other and and kill it over time. Need to use 24V feed through a reducer to keep an even drain on both batteries

At this stage there is no stereo or anything that will drain power. haha the only mode of music is my ipod with a seperate speaker its doing the job just haha. I will probably get them on the slow charge tomorrow and see how they go after that.

Cheers for the suggestions much appreciated

[skid]

what brand are they and are they calcium

if calcium then you require a calcium charger to get full charge back into them

majority of battery companies only sell calcium these days

and just because it has caps on it to check the fluid doesn't mean its a lead acid battery

[suzookyman]

Hey Ray, Wracks do free battery checks. My bet would be the Alt especially if its still the original one, maybe time for an overhaul?. I just had my Battery checked last week and was only charging up to one third! and thats with a new 110amp alt, no wonder it wouldn't start when cold........new bat in and it's like a new truck

[FORGE1]

what brand are they and are they calcium

if calcium then you require a calcium charger to get full charge back into them

majority of battery companies only sell calcium these days

and just because it has caps on it to check the fluid doesn't mean its a lead acid battery

They are Super Charge and Bosch 680CCA for both.

So must be the newer ones that you are talking about.

I will just keep using it and Im heading North for work on Tuesday which I will take it so it gives them plenty of charge.

Hey Ray, Wracks do free battery checks. My bet would be the Alt especially if its still the original one, maybe time for an overhaul?. I just had my Battery checked last week and was only charging up to one third! and thats with a new 110amp alt, no wonder it wouldn't start when cold........new bat in and it's like a new truck

Cheers for that Al I might just do that later in the week. Ok sweet yeah it doesnt start well on cold mornings as well needs to be glowed a few times and even then I still have to use the manual glow switch (Previous owners installed). and the challenger is doing the same thing so will look at that one as well.

[skid]

what brand are they and are they calcium

if calcium then you require a calcium charger to get full charge back into them

majority of battery companies only sell calcium these days

and just because it has caps on it to check the fluid doesn't mean its a lead acid battery

They are Super Charge and Bosch 680CCA for both.

So must be the newer ones that you are talking about.

PM sent dude

[GTS]

have you tried pulling the terminals off and giving then a good scrub up and maby a gentle rub over with sandpaper especily inside the clamps its surprising how often they are dirty and not letting the full power through

[FORGE1]

have you tried pulling the terminals off and giving then a good scrub up and maby a gentle rub over with sandpaper especily inside the clamps its surprising how often they are dirty and not letting the full power through

Yip I did that as well I think the car terminals could do with a replacement so will do that probably over the weekend if I get the time. I havent had any issues with it lately but its still not 100%.