Charging issue after cold start (1 Viewer)

[aaron9252]

Thanks guys. I went to start testing/digging around last night (hadn't drove it since theae issues) and i couldn't even get a read with the meter on the driver side battery. Literally it said 0. I don't know if I've ever seen this, even with an old battery that's been sitting for months in my garage.

Tested the other and it showed 7.2V.

Pulled both batteries and took them back to Advance. The driver side per their test was indeed completely dead. They said the batter + was reading as the - and vice versa. They said something about the center busting inside, which apparently they see sometimes with real cold weather? First I've heard of this.

After some haggling, got them to replace both. Made sure same date code, etc. Hooked both up, started and it sat at 24V and change at idle, when I revved it up to 1800 rpm after it was warm, it would climb up to 25V or so. But not the 28.2-28.8 that I had seen before. Now, this was the first that I had seen this when the temp was about 20 degrees. Just thought I'd add this.

I cut the LC off and haven't had time to mess with it at this point.

It had a IC regulator so I'll need to pull the brush cap to start testing things.

 

[aaron9252]

Got around to pulling the alternator and the brushes were at proper length, however one was slightly more worn than the other. About 1/8".

I took the alternator to a well known shop in Charlotte that actually rebuilt my alternator back in January. They tore it apart as said the rectifier, stator and diodes were all toast!!!

They felt like it got too hot for some reason and burnt up. Said it typically is attributed to bad batteries.

The batteries were new a year ago and I had them replaced in Dec due to this charging fiasco hoping that was the issue. Kinda feel like I'm going in circles.

I could really use some advice on what to check/test to see what the root cause is while the alternator is being rebuilt...another $250 give or take.

 

[Greg_B]

With new batteries and a good rebuilt alternator I would think you will be good. Won't know till you try. I have heard tell from a relative a similar experience in the past where they felt on the merry-go-round where it ended up a bad battery took out an alternator, then vice-versa. Final fix replaced both and then all was good. Hope that is the case for you.

gb

 

[aaron9252]

Bump in case there are other things to check.

 

[HueyDriver]

How did you resolve this? Starting to notice it’s taking longer and longer for my alternator to begin charging now that it’s getting cold (around freezing temps). It’s now taking about a minute for it to begin charging. 24v system, external regulator. Glow light doesn’t come on until below freezing temps, and then only for a second.

 

[Squash]

I blame it on the fact that cold weather degrades your battery capacity by up to 1/2.
This is one reason batteries go to s*** once cold season starts. Yes, I takes time for the charge show up, but the charge does show up even after a cold start and glow plugs doing their bit.
Think of power used for a cold start, worst yet is not waiting for the glow cycle to ramp down while someone is trying to start. You can tell the difference by sound.
A no charge would worry me, a wait till charge is just part of the game.

 

[HueyDriver]

I blame it on the fact that cold weather degrades your battery capacity by up to 1/2.
This is one reason batteries go to s*** once cold season starts. Yes, I takes time for the charge show up, but the charge does show up even after a cold start and glow plugs doing their bit.
Think of power used for a cold start, worst yet is not waiting for the glow cycle to ramp down while someone is trying to start. You can tell the difference by sound.
A no charge would worry me, a wait till charge is just part of the game.

I blame it on the fact that cold weather degrades your battery capacity by up to 1/2.
This is one reason batteries go to s*** once cold season starts. Yes, I takes time for the charge show up, but the charge does show up even after a cold start and glow plugs doing their bit.
Think of power used for a cold start, worst yet is not waiting for the glow cycle to ramp down while someone is trying to start. You can tell the difference by sound.
A no charge would worry me, a wait till charge is just part of the game.

Indeed I think it’s the battery and the cold. I was getting 27.4v at the back of the alternator and when running the batteries were charging at 13.4v. All that seems normal.

In cold weather, should I keep the key on for a few seconds before starting, even though I don’t see the glow light yet? The lack of glow light on the dash makes me think the glow wasn’t working. But after reading it sounds like the glow is in fact on even if the glow light isn’t.

The FSM shows the glow gets temps from water temp sensor.

 

[Squash]

Absolutely on the water temp sensor.
On my BJ74 I would unplug the sensor in winter because this offered a stronger glow cycle especially around the freezing mark as it felt like the sensor was being a biotch.