My truck wouldnt star this Morning eventually it.

Tiny
MATTTYW20
  • MEMBER
  • 1990 CHEVROLET TRUCK
  • 130,000 MILES
My truck wouldnt star this morning eventually it did I drove it last night round 6pm went out at 9am and no start I know my batterys fine and checked alternator wen running it was at over 14 like.2 I think I did realie when cranking over that the battery dropped to 8 something is it possible that the alternators doesnt put out the extra juice when trying to start I just dont wanna take the alternator out for no reason if its fine let me know what you think thanks matt
Monday, December 17th, 2012 AT 3:46 PM

15 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Battery should drop no lower than 9 volts when chranking. Load test the battery an dstarter.
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Monday, December 17th, 2012 AT 4:06 PM
Tiny
MATTTYW20
  • MEMBER
  • 113 POSTS
I load tested my battery the other day with my hid's on an radio and it was in the 11s I believe the starters fairly new I kno about 2 years ago I had this issue and a new alternator fixed it
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Monday, December 17th, 2012 AT 4:11 PM
Tiny
MATTTYW20
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  • 113 POSTS
I just don't wanna pull it and be told by parts store that its fine lol
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Monday, December 17th, 2012 AT 4:12 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
If battery is charged and good it won't drop below 9 it can be the starter drawing tomuch as well. Do what you want we only give adviece an dit's yours to follow or not
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Monday, December 17th, 2012 AT 4:14 PM
Tiny
MATTTYW20
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  • 113 POSTS
How could I check to see what the starters drawing thanks
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Monday, December 17th, 2012 AT 4:33 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Yu need an amp gauge to do that and battery must be in good shape first. Auto parts stores can test them off the vehicle as well as test batteries.
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Monday, December 17th, 2012 AT 4:34 PM
Tiny
MATTTYW20
  • MEMBER
  • 113 POSTS
Alright thanks i'll remove battery have thenm check it then go from there
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Monday, December 17th, 2012 AT 4:41 PM
Tiny
MATTTYW20
  • MEMBER
  • 113 POSTS
I just have other quick quesion I have a battery disconnect switch that I mounted before from when I thought it was a draw issue and i've just been turning the battery off over night would that make a difference
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Monday, December 17th, 2012 AT 7:15 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Only if it were a bad connection or not going on all theway
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Monday, December 17th, 2012 AT 7:58 PM
Tiny
MATTTYW20
  • MEMBER
  • 113 POSTS
Well I jus went outside an started my truck the battery went from 12.8 to 9.69 when cracking so since my starter has lifetime warranty should I take it out an get it replaced an hope tht fixes it
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Monday, December 17th, 2012 AT 10:37 PM
Tiny
MATTTYW20
  • MEMBER
  • 113 POSTS
*cranking*
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Monday, December 17th, 2012 AT 10:42 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
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Have it tested first. Also youmentioned you have a shutoff switch with out doing anything see what your voltage is at the starter as you cold have a bad cable leading from starter to battery and is there a ground wire going from battery to engine. One other thing there shold be a ground wire going from engine to body at firewall, it will be a copper braided wire you need that for the blower and other things in your truck and alot of times it has been disconnected or left off after a repair
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Monday, December 17th, 2012 AT 11:41 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
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Oh forgot, check the purple wire to see if it is engaging the starter correctly as it could be your ignition switch
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Monday, December 17th, 2012 AT 11:42 PM
Tiny
MATTTYW20
  • MEMBER
  • 113 POSTS
I don't mean to sound stupid but my starters under the manifold so I just wanna be sure how to test the voltage down there without doin anything do I just connect the positive lead to the positive lead to the starter solenoid and the ground to the starter body? Let me kno thanks
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Tuesday, December 18th, 2012 AT 4:38 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
If this is a chevy engine all youneed do is touch the positive lead with a voltmeter or test light. Then if yo ucan reach teh purple wire with the same volt or test lighthave an assistant hit to start to see if it is getting juice although I think it is. I'm sure you can reach it from the side, if not just pul it off and get it tested.
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Tuesday, December 18th, 2012 AT 1:21 PM

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