Could also be a bad battery connection from the children that work at Autozone. It's hard to know how to connect a battery when you haven't learned how to shave yet.
94 Cruiser - alternator or starter
- Thread starter gspremington
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- #22
Its a brand new battery. I connect it, dash lights are illuminated and the car begins clicking. But wont turn over or start.
Did you replace the fusible links as well?
Unless you put a meter across the battery terminals to read the voltage and verify that the connections are solid, your statement means nothing.
Illuminated dash lights does not indicate state of charge of the battery.
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- #25
Thank you for the chart and info. I just measured the battery at 12.49 across the terminals (uninstalled).
As soon as i connect it, the car audibly begins rapidly clicking a 2-3x per second with some lights flashing (ie rear brakes). Connecting the terminals and attempting to start the car while tapping the starter did not work either. Measuring a bit later after disconnecting and voltage has dropped some.
As a novice, please point out if you see any issues or suggested paths I can take to try and get it running to avoid a tow.
1) Take battery back to AZ for a test/charge
2) try and jump start it with a second vehicle. ... Edit. Borrowed a portable jumpstarter and the engine wont turn over. Even with modest tapping on the starter.
Any thoughts on root cause. Is it a battery issue (it was new)? Is it a starter issue? Something else?
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- Thread starter
- #26
I did not replace these.
Sounds like some sort of alarm getting triggered. Is there a theft deterrent on the truck?
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- #28
No theft deterrent system is in place. Its a very rapid and audible clicking noise (in the car and out in front) with all lights flashing. Maybe 2-3x per second like an excited turn signal.
Bad starter? Spark plugs (12 y/o per old maintenance records)?
Last resort is to tow to a local guy and ask for eval of starter and to replace fusible links part.
Starter is not in the equation until you try to start the engine.
Spark plugs and the rest of the ignition system is not related.
Simply connecting the battery and having lights flash with audible clicking points to some sort of alarm. I can't think of anything else that would cause this. Lights don't magically turn themselves on. There is circuitry involved.
There were dealer installed alarms that were common in the 80 Series. Look under the driver's seat. Is there a black rectangular box?
Two things here:
1) I learned long ago that @jonheld knows his stuff and to take his advice as gospel. I also agree that flashing lights is not a normal function when applying power and I would lean toward an alarm system cycling. These old units are known to be faulty after so many years.
2) Did you look at the troubleshooting guide @BTLSHP posted? It was also suggested to replace the fusible link (easy fix and takes five minutes) as if any of the legs links blow it will cause issues.
I would suggest resetting and (after reviewing the troubleshooting guide) to do a methodical check to eliminate items.
1) I learned long ago that @jonheld knows his stuff and to take his advice as gospel. I also agree that flashing lights is not a normal function when applying power and I would lean toward an alarm system cycling. These old units are known to be faulty after so many years.
2) Did you look at the troubleshooting guide @BTLSHP posted? It was also suggested to replace the fusible link (easy fix and takes five minutes) as if any of the legs links blow it will cause issues.
I would suggest resetting and (after reviewing the troubleshooting guide) to do a methodical check to eliminate items.
You've obviously never talked to my wife.
Ok, let me clarify - His 80 series advice is gospel!
But let me guess if you ask the wife, the marriage stuff is just like the rest of us hanging on by a thread
I swear, sometimes I am surprise that I actually wake up. Can just picture her above me while sleeping holding a pillow and thinking "Can I get away with it". Thank god she doesn't watch enough crime dramas to feel confident.
But let me guess if you ask the wife, the marriage stuff is just like the rest of us hanging on by a thread
I swear, sometimes I am surprise that I actually wake up. Can just picture her above me while sleeping holding a pillow and thinking "Can I get away with it". Thank god she doesn't watch enough crime dramas to feel confident.
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- #33
@jonheld . Good update. You were absolutely correct. There was an (aftermarket?) alarm in play that i was unaware of. No key fobs etc on purchase. The alarm reset button is a little metal toggle switch tucked under to the left underneath the dash. It just had to be flipped and the cruiser started right up. Been starting easy and driving fairly well for a 31 y/o car that hasn't seen much use in the last 6-8 years.
Thank you again for your insights and education here. I will be reading up and figuring out what to do next as there are lots more things to work on now that it runs.
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