• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

Battery draining /New battery, new alternator


newfranger

New Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2009
Messages
8
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Calgary, Alberta
Vehicle Year
1989
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Size
2.9L
Transmission
Manual
The problem I'm having is as follows:

I had a bad inertia switch, I never bothered to get a new one.
What I decided to do was, cut the plug connector off (& run the two wires together) Pulled over the key......perfect!!! But noticed every time I'd pull over the key the battery was getting weaker & weaker. I picked up a three prong switch at crappy tire & decide to wire it up to the two wires. The three prongs read: ground-acc-power SO I hooked 1 up to acc & one to power. Turned the key & won't start....figured I forgot to turn the switch......turned it.....pulled over perfect!! So I kept the truck going but the battery got weaker & weaker. So I'm, wondering what I hooked up wrong? Anybody have any suggestions?
TKS
 


Rico

New Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2009
Messages
180
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Vehicle Year
1992
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
2.3L
Transmission
Manual
Corrosion on your connections can be your worst enemy. If thet're not shiney and silver try cleaning them.
 
IRKillroy

IRKillroy

New Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2009
Messages
515
Reaction score
6
Points
0
Location
Okinawa
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
2.9l
Transmission
Manual
My credo
Semper Fidelis
um, bad wires too... if the corrosion is in the insulation that'll do it as well.

now, I don't understand why you decided to jump the inertia switch... it's engineered into your vehicle because it's dangerous for an electric pump to spew fuel all over the place if you get in an accident.... things blow up that way.

anyways, did it have a drain problem before you decided to play electrical engineer and chop out your inertia switch?
 
holyford86

holyford86

Some guy with a problem
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
RBV's on Boost
GMRS Radio License
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
2,212
Reaction score
605
Points
113
Age
37
Location
Plattsburgh, NY
Vehicle Year
many
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
7
Tire Size
33x12.50R15
have you checked the voltage output of your alternator while running? Was the battery that you installed junk right out of the box? Get the battery load tested. having a switch in the off position where the inertia switch was isn't going to do crap because the wire doesn't have power when the truck is off anyway. Are you leaving accessories on? are the door jam switches stuck on? See what you are drawing for amperage at the battery with the truck off by pulling the positive cable to the battery and using a voltmeter to see what the draw is, it shouldn't be much at all, much less than 1 amp. if the draw is negligible then the problem lies in the charging circut, if there is a good amount of draw (greater than 1 amp) then you have a short to find.
 
Ranger44

Ranger44

New Member
Ford Technician
Joined
Aug 13, 2007
Messages
3,127
Reaction score
23
Points
0
Location
Illinois
Vehicle Year
1995
Make / Model
FORD
Engine Size
4.0 OHV
Transmission
Automatic
Yes, do yourself a big favor....,especially if you don't have or don't know how to use a DMM, and take the battery and alternator down to an O'reilly's or autozone, etc and have them tested for free.

The problem could also be like others have said, an alternator to battery cable with high resistance, or bad connections(which would also cause high resistance).

What it really sound like is that there is a parasitic draw on the battery or the battery cannot take a load.

BTW, go to a junkyard and get an inertia switch to put on your truck......
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

  • ryan
    ryan
    Forum Administrator

Members online

Total: 667 (members: 11, guests: 656)

Today's birthdays

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Latest posts

Truck of The Month


Shran
April Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

Latest Album Photos

Hunters
20240409_190831.jpg
20240409_190818.jpg
20240409_180824.jpg
20240409_182648.jpg
20240409_181010.jpg
20240408_175026.jpg
99 Ranger
20200706_161414.jpg
20240207_155117.jpg
20240207_155111.jpg
20240207_154537 - Copy.jpg

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top