Ok so I started a thread last week (Sunday) was doing a water pump swap/coolant flush etc. After going through the process of draining/refilling/starting engine/stopping engine/draining/refilling/starting engine/stopping engine a few times over I was unable to start it again... the starter just clicked... I thought it was a coincidence because maybe the battery had gotten low on juice, because I wasn't allowing the engine to run long enough for it to recover/recharge etc -plus- it has been very cold here... So I put a battery tender on it and I haven't had a problem all week until today.

I picked up my daughter from school and went to start it again and "click, click, click"... From the starter. I asked a guy to jump me and it started right up.. no problem... So I had an appt to get aligned and after they mechanic started it and stopped it 2 or3 times (pulling it onto the rack, taking it for a test drive, then parking it etc) I went to pick it up start and same thing click, click, click... So they put a jumper battery on it and no start just click, click, click... The mechanic seemed to think it was my starter.. They ended up helping me pop the clutch to start it and I brought it home .. as soon as I got home I got out my digital multi meter... This is what I found..

Engine running with no accessories on Voltage at the batt terminals reads: 13.59v

Engine running with -All- accessories, (aux cooling fan, headlights, stereo, and interior blower fan on high) Voltage at the batt terminals reads: 12.49v

Engine off Voltage at the batt terminals reads: 13.94v

I'm thinking it's a combo of my Alternator being weak and my Starter going bad.. ?

What do you all think??

 

My money is on the battery (being bad).
Take it to your favorite auto parts store and they will check it for free.
I just replaced the battery in my truck because it seemed to charge up OK, voltage looked good, but after a couple of starts, nada.
It checked bad.

 

Will do that first... probably the easiest thing to check first.

 

"Engine off Voltage at the batt terminals reads: 13.94v"

Sounds like your meter is ed up.

 

Typo 12.94v oops

My battery is a AZ Platnum AGM if that makes any difference

 

how do the terminals look?

 

Clean the battery is less than a year old.. But taking to get it tested shortly

 

Battery tested good..

 

A trick to try the next time it just goes click, take a hammer and hit on the ide of the starter. If makes it start it is your starter for sure. My starter did the same thing with me about 2 years ago. It was doing good and then starting acting like the battery was weak/dead. Hit the starter with a hammer a time or two, and it would start just fine for a while, but it would act up again about every 4 to 5 times that you started it up.

 

I've done that too.. no difference.

This morning I went through and replaced all my main battery cables. I got a kit from Kelly's Whips last year and just never got around to it. I found some questionable connections, wires and the ground from the engine to firewall??? What a joke!

Got it all buttoned up and it fired right up... Also put my DOM on the bat while running and it's reading over 14v w/no accessories off. (That's the first I've seen a reading over 14v.. I also checked my battery temp sensor for resistance and it seemed to be on the high side... but dropped as I warmed it up with a heat gun.

My voltage engine running with all the accessories on still drops to around 12.5v and my headlights noticeably dimm when at idle...(it's always done this) but voltage does jump when I rev the engine.

 

I don't like this. A battery at rest should read ~12.6V. But reading 12.5V at full load? Sounds like the alternator is having a hard time keeping up with your loads. It could be on it's way out the door.

 

Alternator sounds weak. Is your belt tight?

 

Yep belt is tight! I'm gonna order the HIgh Output alternator this week. AZ has a 20% discount online.

 

Id expect your new cables installed fixed the problem. I've a bad ground cable on more than one vehicle. Your getting good voltage readings now and your battery is less than a year old and you had it load tested and it was good. Your current alternator is puttin out and you can always upgrade, but sounds like you've achieved the fix with the wire replacements.
If it reoccurs I'd look at the starter as next problem, if the brushes are pooching out you could need max power to kick it in, such as getting a boost. If your problems do not return soon, then you know your wire fix did it.

 

Agreed
Thanks man!!