dan-0 Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 Hey guys I have taken my cluster and dash accessories ouut and have not used the car in a few days. Using a multimeter: My battery is sitting on about 11.92v turned off. I cannot start the car, it just makes a ticking sound under the bonnet. If I connect my car to another car running the battery sits on about 13.8v. It will start properly but when I disconnect the other battery the car dies?? Any ideas? Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/402448-has-my-alternator-died/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
t_revz Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 Could be battery or alternator. But Im leaning towards battery. If you can use a charger on your battery and retest. Also try testing voltage not running then turn on headlights and see If it drops right down Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/402448-has-my-alternator-died/#findComment-6397534 Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjman Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 wouldnt the easiest way to test this be to turn off the car that your jumping it from? that way if it keeps running its the battery. If it stops its ur alternator? Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/402448-has-my-alternator-died/#findComment-6397619 Share on other sites More sharing options...
89CAL Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 Get a second person and check the battery voltage while cranking, if it drops below 9V I think it is then it usually means your battery is gone. It sounds like battery at the moment but. Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/402448-has-my-alternator-died/#findComment-6397631 Share on other sites More sharing options...
t_revz Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 wouldnt the easiest way to test this be to turn off the car that your jumping it from? that way if it keeps running its the battery. If it stops its ur alternator? He already did this and it died. It should keep running if it's the alternator until the battery is depleted so sounds like a battery to me Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/402448-has-my-alternator-died/#findComment-6397681 Share on other sites More sharing options...
89CAL Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 He already did this and it died. It should keep running if it's the alternator until the battery is depleted so sounds like a battery to me No. From his post he hasn't checked the cranking voltage of the car, only the static voltage Checking the cranking voltage tells alot of the story. Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/402448-has-my-alternator-died/#findComment-6397708 Share on other sites More sharing options...
t_revz Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 My last post wasn't directed at yours Cal. I agree with your suggestion however a starter that Is clicking can be hard to get a reading as the multimeter usually won't keep up with the varying voltage. Plus if the battery is flat it will read low even though the battery might be fine. But more things Op tests the better:) Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/402448-has-my-alternator-died/#findComment-6397810 Share on other sites More sharing options...
89CAL Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 My last post wasn't directed at yours Cal. I agree with your suggestion however a starter that Is clicking can be hard to get a reading as the multimeter usually won't keep up with the varying voltage. Plus if the battery is flat it will read low even though the battery might be fine. But more things Op tests the better:) Haha wow sorry man. Thought you quoted me for some reason. No idea what happened there :S Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/402448-has-my-alternator-died/#findComment-6397926 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tai1or Made Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 Check the terminals for cracks. Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/402448-has-my-alternator-died/#findComment-6398166 Share on other sites More sharing options...
89CAL Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 Actually thats a fair point. Check your earths as well for good contact with the Chassis. You can use your multimeter to check the resistance from your battery negative to the body. Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/402448-has-my-alternator-died/#findComment-6398285 Share on other sites More sharing options...
HR32GTS 4DOOR Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 Check the terminals for cracks. +1 when you try and start it do the terminals get really hot. take the terminals off the battery, you will probably find they are corroded on the inside if so clean them or get new ones. Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/402448-has-my-alternator-died/#findComment-6398310 Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan-0 Posted June 13, 2012 Author Share Posted June 13, 2012 I disconnected my cluster, stereo, dash accessories etc, would that have anything to do with it? Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/402448-has-my-alternator-died/#findComment-6398357 Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan-0 Posted June 14, 2012 Author Share Posted June 14, 2012 Hey guys I bit the bullet and bought a new Century battery. Started up first go and runs great. I guess the alternator is fine!! Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/402448-has-my-alternator-died/#findComment-6399010 Share on other sites More sharing options...
t_revz Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 Good stuff Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/402448-has-my-alternator-died/#findComment-6399016 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moodles2 Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 I've flattened my battery so many times (sealed lead acid type) by leaving my lights on while parked, I always keep a charger in my boot. I've found I need at least 12.4V (12.6V ideally) at the battery terminals for the car to start, anything lower and there is no chance of the starter to even turn once. 11.92V there is absolutely no chance, even my motorbike wouldn't start with that much voltage. Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/402448-has-my-alternator-died/#findComment-6399121 Share on other sites More sharing options...
t_revz Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 I've flattened my battery so many times (sealed lead acid type) by leaving my lights on while parked, I always keep a charger in my boot. I've found I need at least 12.4V (12.6V ideally) at the battery terminals for the car to start, anything lower and there is no chance of the starter to even turn once. 11.92V there is absolutely no chance, even my motorbike wouldn't start with that much voltage. For the last yr before pulling mine off the road the battery had a dead cell and sat at 10v started every time. About 9v was the absolute limit. However I run 0 gauge battery cables everywhere. Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/402448-has-my-alternator-died/#findComment-6399156 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moodles2 Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 I'm suprised you would even get dash lights, I know I don't with 10v Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/402448-has-my-alternator-died/#findComment-6399180 Share on other sites More sharing options...
t_revz Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 Had dash lights even when cranking at around 8v. Think I got away with it cos every cylinder was so low on compression. Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/402448-has-my-alternator-died/#findComment-6399565 Share on other sites More sharing options...
89CAL Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 Should easily still get dash lights with 10v. You may have a wiring issue (high resistance somewhere) Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/402448-has-my-alternator-died/#findComment-6399716 Share on other sites More sharing options...
HR32GTS 4DOOR Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 Usually when a battery has been completely flattened a few times, you won't be able to pull as many amps through it even if it has 12 or so volts. my old battery which was rooted wouldn't start the car at 12 volts the new one will start it at 10. Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/402448-has-my-alternator-died/#findComment-6399801 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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