Does this sound like a dead battery?

[SVOboy]

You've prolly seen the end of my project thread, but here's the basic problem as I've become able to see it. Anyway, started up it was obviously almost dead, got going and the light faded on, gained up some rpms, faded off, and so on and so forth, but every time I went low on rpms it would come on just a little bit, I guess because it wasn't charging so well. So dead battery, yeah? I need to go find a battery for my DMM now, but what should I be looking for in terms of readings?

[Bunger]

With the car running, assuming your alternator is good, you should see around 13.8-15.5 volts. Assuming your battery is good, it should have about 12.5 volts with no load, and shouldn't drop below about 9 volts when cranking.

[SVOboy]

So check it, start the car, and then check againand it should be 12 and then13-14.7ish?

[Bunger]

Originally Posted by SVOboy

So check it, start the car, and then check againand it should be 12 and then13-14.7ish?

Check the battery voltage with no load, make sure its about 12.5V

Start the car, and while its cranking, make sure it doesn't drop below 9.6V

With the car running, bring the RPMs up to 2K and check the voltage, it should be between 13.8 - 15.5V

Also, try turning on your headlights, heater fan (on high) and anything else you can think of, with the car running, it shouldn't drop below 13.3V

Report back. =)

[Bunger]

Also, if you haven't done this already, make sure the fluid in your battery is topped off (unless you have a sealed unit) (only add distilled or highly filtered water)

[SVOboy]

PS: will an obd1 alternator fit my block?

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by SVOboy

PS: will an obd1 alternator fit my block?

It should. I have a obd0 alternator on my obd1 block.

[SVOboy]

I guess the problem will get fixed somehow.

[SVOboy]

Oh yeah, how should I check the fluid level in the battery?

[GasSavers_Ryland]

fluid leavle is checked by poping the caps off the battery, their should be some sort of little leavle notchs down in there thatyou fill till they are covered, if you don't see them then just fill it till the battery has 1/2 of water/acid past the top of the plates, your repair book tells you how to do this as well.

at idle your battery should be charging, 13.5 volts is pretty standard I think.