Thread: HELP,not sure whats wrong

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this is probably vay simple to fix. i have bought a new alternator and battery for a 305. i went to start my truck and it wouldnt start. it was turing over almost enough to start but it wouldnt. then i tried again and it kept losing power than it just sounded like the starter was clicking. i jumped it off and let it run for a while. turned it off. then started up fine. 30-45 minutes later i tried and same thing as before. almost starting then so on and son. if you can help i would appreciate it. i am rather new so im learing. thanks again

Austin

Sounds to me like your new battery ain't so new. You have a dud. If you bought it new, bring it back for warranttee, if you bought it used, go buy a new one. Your alternater is working because after it runs for a bit, the battery has enough charge to start it. However the battery runs down after a short period.

Other than that, you might have a short.

Check all your connections and wires. The power can't get through if the wiring sucks...................

were do u think the most common place were the short is if there is one. this is my second battery so. but i have had it about a week and a half and worked fine till now so. thanks

If there is a draw on the battery when it's turned off, try taking a cable off it's post and let it set awhile. If the battery stays charged you have a drain someplace. If it doesn't hold a charge while disconnected it's time to get a new battery.

All of them..............especially the battery cable connections....Don't forget where the ground cables bolt onto the block. There are also small ground straps from the block to the body, back by the firewall.

Originally posted by 69chevypkup
were do u think the most common place were the short is if there is one. this is my second battery so. but i have had it about a week and a half and worked fine till now so. thanks

My guess if that's the case....You have a very slow drain someplace. A new well chared battery will probably handle the drain for a few days. I would take the ground cable off the battery (Off the engine would be safer). then pull (1) fuse out. then touch the cable to the engine or to the battery whichever end you removed it from. If there is a draw you will see a very slight spark. check each fuse 1 at a time til you find the one that stops the spark. Then you know at least which ciruit to trace.
Like I said, if you can disconnect the neg. cable from the engine side, it would be safer. I'm a little skiddish making even small sparks around batteries. HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE in my youth.
I should add if you can't easily get at the cable from the engine side, I would disconnect the battery side and then connect a jumper wire to the battery.....then touch the jumper wire to the battery cable away from the battery.

Sounds like ya got a dead short there, one way to see is to remove the pos battery cable, now get out your trusty 12volt test light, hook one end to the POS cable and the other end to the POS post, if it lights up you got a short, if so you got to start hunting, now to narrow your search down a little leave the light hooked up and lite, pull fuses out one at a time and when the light goes out you'll have narrowed down the seach to what ever is protected by that fuse, if no fuse makes it go out, all thats left is main wire to starter, starter itself (very rare) or some kind of add on device hooked right to the battery itself, hope this helps some.

thank you everyone for your advice. i will post later.

Austin