Charging system?

[JustinD]

I noticed my gauge this morning above 14v? Is this normal? I think I have something in the truck drawing on the batteries overnight because when its cold it starts hard like the batteries are weak, but they are less than a yr old and they are 1000 cold cranking amps each.

 

[JustinD]

Is the alt trying to compensate for a bad battery? Or is the alt overcharging and is junk? Also any idea on the best way to find what is drawing on my batteries overnight?

 

[d-max joe]

it looks normal.. put a volt meter on battery while charging to make sure it is the correct number should be 13 or 14. thats what mine says

 

[MMLMM]

does it saty there and come back down when warmed up to operating temp?

Mine every now and then shoots up just over 14v when started and after it gets to about normal temp (or has ran about that long) it settles back down to just a hair under 14v

 

[TrentNell]

Only way to check the charging system is put a volt meter on the battery with the engine running , it should be 13.7-14.1 .

 

[JustinD]

does it saty there and come back down when warmed up to operating temp?

Mine every now and then shoots up just over 14v when started and after it gets to about normal temp (or has ran about that long) it settles back down to just a hair under 14v

It goes there and stays there never comes down, I thought it used to stay just under 14v before??

 

[JustinD]

Only way to check the charging system is put a volt meter on the battery with the engine running , it should be 13.7-14.1 .

I'm gonna put a multi meter on it tonight to see whats up.

 

[PhilsLB7]

When I put the yellow top Optima's in, only one of them lasted 6 months. Also try disconnecting the batteries from one another and checking the voltage at each battery. If one is much lower than the other, this may be your problem.

 

[JustinD]

Meter says 14.4 on both batteries. Is that acceptable?

 

[JustinD]

Everything seems to be working fine? How can I find out what is drawing on the batteries over night? Any methods that you guys use?

 

[maxaholic]

Did you put a voltmeter on the batteries in the morning. I ask because we have a lb7 at my house that seems like it takes longer to start. I figured it was just because it was older. But I had a buddy that put some red top optimas on his lb7 and that pickup would crank right quick fast and in a hurry.

 

[JustinD]

I didn't check it this morning, but I know something is killing them over night, it is struggling to turn the motor over, my remote start won't even start it now because it times out before it starts. I wanna get to the bottom of this before snow plowing season starts. Thanks for the input guys.

 

[jc1843]

You should have the batteries tested- remember to isolate them and test one at a time. High voltage can damage electronics.

 

[JustinD]

So, I guess tonight I should disconnect the batteries and test them one at a time, if they test bad, I'll get new ones but I still need to see what is drawing on the system overnight, I have check all the obvious things like under hood light and stereo equipment all seems to be off when I turn it off, my lift pumps are wired into the under hood fuse box, I'll check those too, can't hear those Kennedy pumps run, maybe those are always on?

 

[LT1BRD]

mine's the same way...2 new batteries (less than 6 months old anyway). in the morning when the glow plugs are on, the voltage on the gauge is low and slowly creeps up...then about 7 to 10 seconds after running, the voltage jumps up past 14V like yours is. stays that way. never had a problem.
it's a little slow on the crank at first, but i think that's partially due to the glow plugs.

 

[JustinD]

mine's the same way...2 new batteries (less than 6 months old anyway). in the morning when the glow plugs are on, the voltage on the gauge is low and slowly creeps up...then about 7 to 10 seconds after running, the voltage jumps up past 14V like yours is. stays that way. never had a problem.
it's a little slow on the crank at first, but i think that's partially due to the glow plugs.

Yeah maybe I have glow plug module problems? Drawing too much? Because I have left it parked for weeks at a time in the summer and it fires right up so that kind of kills the something drawing overnight theory, only in the colder weather does it act up. Anyone have Glow plug module issues before? I have already swapped out the batteries once for new ones.

 

[JustinD]

Okay, I just went outside to start the truck, I decided to just try to start it without waiting for the wait to start light to go out, it whipped over like a champ???? It has time been outside for 10 hrs now and usually is very weak starting after spending that much off? Im gonna try this again tomorrow AM but I am leaning toward my glow plugs are drawing too much on start up? I have an extra module, should I swap it out? volt gauge is still reading the same??

 

[duratothemax]

and you are sure the batteries are good??

Mine will start at -10* without being plugged in on only ONE battery. Cranks pretty slowly but it does start.

ben

 

[JustinD]

Mine starts, but it sounds like its laboring. I put the Tech 2 on it and that says 14.1 battery voltage. I guess thats ok then, Im gonna swap out the cluster tomorrow.

 

[Ben46a]

Id say your batteries are hashed. Do a load test on them, Open circuit voltage tells you jack all.