Things you "know" can really throw a wrench into things.

[Bubba1235]

My wife used my pickup yesterday and when I went to use it the battery was pretty much dead. I put the charger on for a couple hours and it started right up.

Took it for a drive and voltmeter was happy so I parked it and made certain everything was off. Went to use it today and again the battery would not crank the engine over even though all lights and dash worked fine. I think maybe something else is zapping the battery so I put the charger on it again but it says the battery is fully charged. (Charger barely moving amp indicator.)

I start thinking bad connection somewhere and clean the posts first, no change. I mess around for another 10 minutes looking at the other ends of the battery cables with my spot light clamped to the battery and make the determination the problem simply could not be in such a crappy location to get to, it had to be top side somewhere. Spot light worked fine by the way.

Sit and think for a minute. Battery has a full charge according to the charger and the spot light, can hear solinoid operate, battery posts and clamps are shiny clean. Decide to try the key one more time and its the same result, but I notice the spot light went out when I tried to crank it and came back on when I released the key.

Pulled the battery out, had it load tested and it was gone as far as starting power but would produce 25 to 30 amps before voltage fell off. Should have done that at the very beginning... New battery and all is good.

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: Things you "know" can really throw a wrench into things.

Yup, Sounds like you had a cell drop in the battery. Had that happen just before winter in the Saturn.
Mine tested fine on the charger and would jump and drive fine. Shut it down and nada.

 

[mommicked]

Re: Things you "know" can really throw a wrench into things.

"My wife used my pickup"reminded me of a good friend who told me a while back how his wife borrowed his 4x4 Ford f150 to drive to work in the melting snow and ice,he told her to use 4wd high range if the road was still covered in snow,it was in spots.She called him a while later on the road and said the truck was whining or reving alot going 55 or so,he asked " do you have it in 4wd low"? Uh, yea she said.He was surprised to find no real damage to his drivetrain and she drove it quite a ways at high speed.

 

[Philip_G]

Re: Things you "know" can really throw a wrench into things.

it's amazing how fickle such a simple device can be. I've been there and done that before too. These days I don't even trust the counter monkeys at the parts stores to test components anymore after diagnosing a bad alternator on a friends jeep 2 of 3 shops tested it good. Replaced it and hasn't been a problem in the 2 years since.

 

[puma4440]

Re: Things you "know" can really throw a wrench into things.

My wife told me to drive her car to work one night because the instruments were acting funny(all digital), sure enough, I was getting 999 mpg, going 199 mph, and I was red lining at 9000 rpms. By the time I made it to work, my headlights had diminished to mere candles. I put it on the charger, then load tested it, and it was dead. The sad thing was, it was only 7 months old, and I still had one heck of a time getting autozone to replace it.

I see it alot at work(at a lake), somebody will show up at the shop pulling an empty trailer asking if we have a jump pack they can borrow. I don't let my tools out of sight, so I assist them, and lord the things I've seen! I've seen countless 30 pound blocks of corrosion they called a battery, so bad that I can't find the posts, it just looks like 2 cables running into a block of white/blue/green powder. Color coding must only be for "professionals". I've seen 12 awg soilid wire used for starter cables(with most insulation melted off).

Once you see some of these things, you can't help but look around their boat a little. Stuff that looks like melted gummy bears dripping from the carb., genuine rope steering systems, rope throttle systems, corks used for plugs, ect.

 

[Cadwelder]

Re: Things you "know" can really throw a wrench into things.

I see it alot at work(at a lake), somebody will show up at the shop pulling an empty trailer asking if we have a jump pack they can borrow. I don't let my tools out of sight, so I assist them, and lord the things I've seen! I've seen countless 30 pound blocks of corrosion they called a battery, so bad that I can't find the posts, it just looks like 2 cables running into a block of white/blue/green powder. Color coding must only be for "professionals". I've seen 12 awg soilid wire used for starter cables(with most insulation melted off).

Once you see some of these things, you can't help but look around their boat a little. Stuff that looks like melted gummy bears dripping from the carb., genuine rope steering systems, rope throttle systems, corks used for plugs, ect.

And with all of that, these things are actually working (somtimes) just goes to show you how long boats (or anything for that matter) would last if owners would just take proper care of things.

 

[jtmarten]

Re: Things you "know" can really throw a wrench into things.

The cold Jan weather killed the batt in my BMW, a hefty $170 batt at Autozone! Same type of symptom, once you hear the starter starting to drag just a tiny bit you better hope it fires, 'cause its done, and prob won't crank it over again.

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: Things you "know" can really throw a wrench into things.

Yeah, I sort of kicked myself because I am the one always telling people that just because the voltage reading is good it does not mean it can provide cranking amps. Kind of a "Duh" moment when I realised my mistake. On the plus side, I didn't have to climb under the truck and get to the starter terminals to clean them!

Isn't it always like that.. People can come to you and you can fire off a solution 90% of the time and be right about it. But when something happens to our vehicles, we stand there scratching our heads going duh. Been there many times.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Things you "know" can really throw a wrench into things.

Standard red neck troubleshooting.

Won't crank....
Turn on the headlights.
Turn the key.
Headlights go out.
Check connections and maybe clean.
Do again
Headlights go out.
do again, only hold the key for 10 seconds. Watch for hot spots, only stay away from the battery because it could literally explode. You can usually hear a bad connection sizzle.
No hot spots
Replace the battery.

 

[fireman57]

Re: Things you "know" can really throw a wrench into things.

I like the opening line, "My wife used my pickup". Usually says it all. Not in my wife's case mind you because she is the best. I feel sorry for you other guys. Okay, she left the room after I typed this.

 

[rbh]

Re: Things you "know" can really throw a wrench into things.

PLUS #1 on a dead battery this week, wifes truck (three years and pitch it out.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Things you "know" can really throw a wrench into things.

Isn't it always like that.. People can come to you and you can fire off a solution 90% of the time and be right about it. But when something happens to our vehicles, we stand there scratching our heads going duh. Been there many times.

Boy, I'll second that. Not that I'm a super mech to start with, but I know my way around stuff. The 'wooden head' thing happens way too often.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Things you "know" can really throw a wrench into things.

I like the opening line, "My wife used my pickup". Usually says it all.

I love blaming my wife for stuff that would have broken anyway for whomever was using the vehicle. Then I say "WHAT'D YOU DO!?" like Tommy Boy says to David Spade when his car door falls off

 

[wifisher]

Re: Things you "know" can really throw a wrench into things.

Yoiu know, I tried that but it backfired. Wife says, "What sort of mechanic would let his wife drive something that is falling apart"?

Maybe, but what sort of mechanic's wife doesn't know that his vehicle is apt to fall apart at any second if all of the involuntary procedures used by said mechanic are not used properly?

 

[fireman57]

Re: Things you "know" can really throw a wrench into things.

Ah yes, you can always count on your dog. Let me ask everyone this: If you lock your wife and your dog in the trunk, go to work that day, come home that evening and let them both out. Who will be happy to see you?

 

[wifisher]

Re: Things you "know" can really throw a wrench into things.

Ah, but you are operating under the assumption that discussion between husband and wife has something (anything) to do with logic and reason. Even worse, you assume the husband is winning if he does win such a discussion and there will be no repercussions. (like cold food, cold shoulder, and speaking only to the dog if I want a conversation.)

Yeah, you've got me there. Even when she's wrong she's usually right.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Things you "know" can really throw a wrench into things.

Funny how most the posts to this thread named "Re: Things you "know" can really throw a wrench into things." start out with "My Wife"......


Just sayin......

I guess were all in the same boat here.....

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Things you "know" can really throw a wrench into things.

Ah but isn't the diffinition of wife "the person you chose to complicate your life"?

It certainly fits in my case!!