dropdeded 0 #1 April 13, 2009 Truck wouldnt start, jumped it, drove a few miles and lights flickering and flashing, brought it home and stole the wifes car. Battery connections/posts are a MESS!! Come morning I'll clean up the connections but wondering, sound like battery or alternator?? I figured alternater with the light show as it was but after seeing what a mess (pretty wet too) the posts/connections Im hoping its just the battery Yeah, Im an idiot.....what------------------------------------------ The Dude Abides. - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryoder 1,590 #2 April 13, 2009 Quote Battery connections/posts are a MESS!! You wouldn't believe the intermittent problems I've had just from corrosion between the battery cable and post. Sometimes there isn't even any corrosion visible until you pull the cable off. It wouldn't surprise me if the corrosion is the entire problem."There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #3 April 13, 2009 Ditto that. Clean up the battery connectors, and you'll probably be good to go. I recently did that with my Blazer when it got sluggish to start, and had intermittent electrical problems, and it restored it to perfect. A little time with a wire brush is a lot cheaper than new parts. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theonlyski 8 #4 April 13, 2009 Ive heard that Coke (the soda, not the drug) is great for cleaning corrosion off of battery terminals. Lights flickering/flashing? Thats kind of odd, if your alt is working fine, then it should run fine without the battery even hooked up, or so I thought?"I may be a dirty pirate hooker...but I'm not about to go stand on the corner." iluvtofly DPH -7, TDS 578, Muff 5153, SCR 14890 I'm an asshole, and I approve this message Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #5 April 13, 2009 Baking soda neutralizes the sulfuric acid that causes corrosion as well as anything. The key to mechanicng? When if doubt, fix the simple things first. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcd11235 0 #6 April 13, 2009 QuoteBaking soda neutralizes the sulfuric acid that causes corrosion as well as anything. And it won't leave your battery all sticky. Affixing a (pre-1982) penny near each battery post will prevent corrosion in the future.Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cashmanimal 0 #7 April 13, 2009 Warranty is up on the flux capacitor. Seriously though, clean everything up. Make sure the water level in the battery isn't too low (can shorten your battery's life significantly). The penny/baking soda recommendations are fantastic; I've also used petroleum jelly with positive results-- on the car battery, too It's all fun and until someone loses an eye... then it's just a game to find the eye Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LongWayToFall 0 #8 April 13, 2009 Does your truck have a battery voltage gauge on the dash, or can you get a multimeter? If so, look closely at the voltage before and after you start it up. The voltage should be higher when the truck is running. If it is the same or lower the alternator is probably busted. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zep 0 #9 April 13, 2009 QuoteQuoteBaking soda neutralizes the sulfuric acid that causes corrosion as well as anything. And it won't leave your battery all sticky. Affixing a (pre-1982) penny near each battery post will prevent corrosion in the future. I always smear the posts with vasaline jelly, works wonders stopping corrosion. Gone fishing Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfriverjoe 1,523 #10 April 13, 2009 QuoteQuoteQuoteBaking soda neutralizes the sulfuric acid that causes corrosion as well as anything. And it won't leave your battery all sticky. Affixing a (pre-1982) penny near each battery post will prevent corrosion in the future. I always smear the posts with vasaline jelly, works wonders stopping corrosion. Vaseline works ok, but they make dielectric grease that is designed for it. I buy it in the little foil packs for about a buck. It's labeled "Bulb Grease". Beg or borrow a voltmeter/multi-meter. Your system should be at 14 volts +/- a little when it's running. Bad battery connections can cause all sorts of trouble. Some cars need the battery in the circuit or they completely shut down."There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dropdeded 0 #11 April 13, 2009 Cool, good morning, yeah, cleaning it up will be the first. Hopefully take care of it. My concern was I didnt think it would get all crazy with the lights like it did unless it was the alternator and had no time to clean it up yesterday. Aint no auto parts store near here either (like 60 miles away) i'll get my ass away from this nice warm fire pretty soon and go clean it up with the wire post cleaner upper thingy I bought at WalMart (they were open Easter Sunday) yesterday and hope that works. I'll let ya know if it works, I know ya'll are waiting to seeOh and someone at work (da bambulance) suggested I "find" some bicarb and douse the connections.... Thanks guys ------------------------------------------ The Dude Abides. - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #12 April 13, 2009 What's the year model of the truck? I had a classic car had a regulator go out and flip the polarity of the electrical system. Then again, that system was running a generator not a regulator and if you were driving a vehicle that old, you probably wouldn't be asking about it here. --"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dropdeded 0 #13 April 13, 2009 '03 Dodge Dakota, quad cab with a V-8. I did very little wrenching when I was a youngster, back when you could climb in, pull a couple nuts and bolts and swap out pretty much anything. Now, fuck, I dont even know what's what under the hood, oh, and this>> one too.. ------------------------------------------ The Dude Abides. - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyjumpenfool 2 #14 April 13, 2009 Do NOT use Coke on anything metallic!! Coke is extremely corrosive and will cause rust problems down the line. Drop a penny in a cup of coke and leave it for a week. You’ll see what I mean. As mentioned above, use a baking soda SOLUTION (one gallon of water mixed with one cup of baking soda) to rinse the battery. Wear safety goggles! When you pour on the solution, it will bubble. When the bubbling stops, the acid is neutralized. Be sure to rinse with lots of cold water to remove all the baking soda solution or it will turn white and chalky when it dries. Now you can clean the battery terminals and the caple clamps with a wire brush or terminal tool. Again, wear safety goggles! They sell these terminal tools very cheap and they work really well. I reccomend to my auto students that you clean your battery terminals once a year. Do NOT use dielectric grease or Vaseline. They sell a battery terminal spray that will coat the terminals to help resist corrosion. This also (unlike dielectric grease or Vaseline) will resist the flow of electricity to anything but the cables. Anything else will allow arching or shorting. All due respect to the posters above… When you want auto advise, try an auto forum! Skydivers (myself included) know just enough to be dangerous. Good luck!!Birdshit & Fools Productions "Son, only two things fall from the sky." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DavidB 0 #15 April 13, 2009 A few thoughts: Don't get your bicarb mix IN the battery! It'll neutralize the battery & then where will you be? If the battery cables still have factory ends, clean them as best you can & give them a light coating of grease or petroleum jelly (light being an operative word). If the cables have bolt-on ends, consider replacing the cables. Those are TEMPORARY! They cause the cable to corrode internally. Corrosion causes resistance. Resistance causes heat. It also causes the alternator to work that much harder shortening it's life & possible the battery's life too. When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyjumpenfool 2 #16 April 13, 2009 QuoteIf the cables have bolt-on ends, consider replacing the cables. Those are TEMPORARY! They cause the cable to corrode internally. I agree! These clamp on terminal connectors cause all sorts of problems. If that's indeed what you have, replace them with new "OEM" or equivilent cables. Some systems in a car (starter motor for example) require High Voltage. Remember, any electricity from the battery has to first get thru the cables. However, again.... DO NOT use grease, petrolium, vaseline, oil, hairspray, or other coatings. Use a good quality battery terminal spary. It works and will not cause other problems.Birdshit & Fools Productions "Son, only two things fall from the sky." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DeNReN 0 #17 April 13, 2009 Quote Some systems in a car (starter motor for example) require High Voltage. A car starter only requires 12 volts on most modern vehicles sold in NA. A car starter does however draw high amperage.... I try to avoid threads such as this....too many people who think they know what they are talking about... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dropdeded 0 #18 April 13, 2009 Cleaned em up, had to replace the tightening bolt (was corroded all the way through) on the neg side. Worked greatGuess I should step up the vehicle maintenance a "little" eh Have to get some of that spray or paste or whatever when I get into town tomorrow. Thanks guys, I was thinking I'd have to go for a new alternator and all, ended up not costing me a dime ------------------------------------------ The Dude Abides. - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
floridadiver81 0 #19 April 14, 2009 Hey a wire brush and clean the terminals an the connections. Your alternator and battery are probably not the problem. Corroded terminals will affect the whole electrical system."Age has absolutely nothing to do with knowledge, learning, respect, attitude, or personality." -yardhippie "Fight the air, and the air will kick your ass!!! "-Specialkaye Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,463 #20 April 14, 2009 Hi drop, One other thing you can do is go to the local auto parts store and buy a set of the felt/oiled-greased rings that you put around the battery terminals & under the leads. It will help in keeping the corrosion to a minimum. Just my $0.02, JerryBaumchen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
