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

"God Bless Texas"location: Houston,TX

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.

the battery has not been holding charge of late... reckon it could have been de-charging because of the solenoid going out on me?

"God Bless Texas"location: Houston,TX

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

Jeff Petersen

nope... all clean.

may just put the old solenoid back on and see what happens...

"God Bless Texas"location: Houston,TX

Maybe the battery is just dead. What is the voltage immediately after you try to start it?


Lawrenceville, GA

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.

  

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

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?

"God Bless Texas"location: Houston,TX

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.

Butchering up everything I can get my hands on in Dayton Ohio