Dude, what's wrong with my battery charger?


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By texasmark1 - 12 Years Ago
Reads 0 amps when I have it plugged in and attached to my car battery... usually goes from the high end of the scale, down toward zero as the battery is charged up...

Reads 13-14 volts when I put my meter on the battery...

and then the battery by itself reads 13+V with the charger removed...

oh, yeah, when I hit the key, it just buzzes and won't start...

so, I guess I have two questions: what's wrong with the charger and what's making the buzz when I try to start the car?

thanks,Mark
By gekko13 - 12 Years Ago
Your battery charger is probably fine. The battery is just one component in the starting system that must function with other elements to start the engine. If the battery has a nominal voltage of 12.6 volts or more at rest, it is probably fully charged. A load test will determine its actual fitness however. All the wiring and connections must be sound as well. Any resistance in the wiring will limit the power that reaches your starter relay and starter motor. A buzzing or clicking sound could also indicate a bad starter relay (sometimes referred to as a solenoid). Don't forget the ground wires too. They are equally as important as the "hot" wiring. Note that the starter relay must be grounded through the mounting bracket to function properly.
By texasmark1 - 12 Years Ago
the battery has not been holding charge of late... reckon it could have been de-charging because of the solenoid going out on me?
By Jeff - 12 Years Ago
Is it possible that you have some sort of corrosion causing resistance between the battery cables and the battery posts that is preventing the charging and starting problems?

Jeff
By texasmark1 - 12 Years Ago
nope... all clean.

may just put the old solenoid back on and see what happens...
By charliemccraney - 12 Years Ago
Maybe the battery is just dead. What is the voltage immediately after you try to start it?
By oldcarmark - 12 Years Ago
If the battery is finito it will read 0 when charging.What is the voltage reading with a voltmeter?If its not been holding a charge likely the battery is done.
By Pete 55Tbird - 12 Years Ago
Try turning on your headlites and have someone watch them as you try to start. If they remain bright then its not the battery. If they dim it is. Pete
By texasmark1 - 12 Years Ago
buzzing is from the solenoid. Put the old one back on, same buzz.

lights come on but are a bit dim, horn sounds, so I've got some juice from the battery.

the buzzing solenoid problem started all at once...

is there a way I can test the solenoid before buying a new one?
By junkyardjeff - 12 Years Ago
Check the connection at the starter and see how good it is,a buzzing solenoid tells me there is a bad connection on one of the cables.
By texasmark1 - 12 Years Ago
well, I have two good solenoids apparently...

rolled it out in the street, hooked up the jumper cables to my other car and it started right up!

oh yeah, when hooking up the jumpers, I crossed up my end (Daniel's end was correct of course!), one big POP and replacing the cover to the front 3 cells later, it started right up... but died the second I unhooked the jumper cables!

so, I guess I'll take the battery to the shop and have it tested for any life left... and probably have to buy a new one!

remember fellas... red to hot and black to ground... works every time... and produces sparks if done wrong... every time!

oh yeah again... do like I say, not like I do!

Mark
By MoonShadow - 12 Years Ago
You're lucky. I've seen batteries explode and do a of physical damage not to mention the battery acid burns. It pays to be careful with them. Chuck
By Pete 55Tbird - 12 Years Ago
Dude

The dim headlites are a clue. They are screaming WEAK BATTERY. It takes far more amps to turn the starter than to blow the horn. Replace the battery. Pete
By texasmark1 - 12 Years Ago
yep, that's probably the plan, especially since I had the "big bang" experience described above...

I wonder if I did any damage to my alternator (newer style with a built-in voltage regulator)...?
By PF Arcand - 12 Years Ago
The possibility of a battery explosion, particularly when doing jump starts, is why the jumper cable suppliers instruct users to connect the end of one of the cables to a chassis ground, not all 4 connections to the batteries. Afterwards that ground cable is to be released first avoiding a spark right at the battery...
By texasmark1 - 12 Years Ago
guess I'll do it that way in the future...

40 years of doing it the wrong way doesn't make it any right-er, does it?!

plus just paying attention is always a good idea as well.

consider me humbled and schooled!

Mark