Charging question

[skoki]

I went to start my HJ60 and the batteries were dead. I jump started it but the batteries don't seem to be taking a full charge. I put a multimeter on the batteries with the engine running at a high idle. The hi side was reading 16.5 volts and the lo side was reading 11.7 I know the lo side should be reading 14+, what should the hi side be reading at a high idle?

Thanks,
Rab

 

[Greg_B]

Do you have any 12V draws off one battery?

Sounds like a classic load imbalance situation. That said, one of the batteries may have a dead cell or two. Best to replace the batteries as a set, with the same brand/type/series for both batteries.

hth's

gb

 

[Tapage]

ditto .. if you need to replace one replace both .. for sure if you can $$$$

Other option you need to disconect both bats and test each one, not only with a multimeter ( only funtion in a evidence damage ) also with a load tester.

 

[Stone]

And while you're at it, make sure that you have good connections on all of your terminals and that you have a good chassis ground.

 

[UpsideDown]

If the batteries are newer, then swap sides and things should return to normal for a while. If your batteries are old... replace them.

Once you've got that all sorted out, you'll have to figure out why you have an unbalanced load... any 12v draws you're not telling us about?