1993 Dodge Intrepid SHORT

Tiny
MVANBUS
  • MEMBER
  • 1993 DODGE INTREPID
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 19,800 MILES
SOMWHERE I HAVE ELECTRICAL PROB, INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD FLASH THEN COME ON AND START RIGHT UP. NOW NO POWER AT ALL. NEW BATTERY, SMELL ACID WHEN I HOOK UP CABLES. CAN'T FIND SHORT.
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Wednesday, March 18th, 2009 AT 12:18 PM

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Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,699 POSTS
Please clarify your description.

"INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD FLASH THEN COME ON AND START RIGHT UP."

The lights started right up? And you have no power at all? Doesn't make sense. An acid smell would come from the battery if it has been overcharged. Two possible causes come to mind.

1. The alternator is overcharging the battery. This is pretty rare, and the smell would be like sulfur or rotten eggs.

2. There's a shorted cell in the battery causing the remaining five cells to share the full charging voltage and overcharge. Not likely if you just put in a new battery.

A shorted diode in the alternator can cause an acid-type smell. Two shorted diodes will cause a dead short on the battery, but the first one will usually burn open first. In that case, the threat of a short is gone, but the most current you will be able to get out of it will be close to one third of its rated value. That's still enough to run the car but with little else for the heater fan on high and the headlights and wipers on.

Caradiodoc
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Friday, March 20th, 2009 AT 2:28 AM

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