bad battery or other?

[JTH1972]

So, I've had a problem suddenly pop up over the last few days. I can't tell if it's that the battery won't hold a charge, or if the battery is being drained somehow.

it started a couple of days ago when I went to start it up on Sat, and the battery was dead. i grabbed a quick jump charger and got it started no problem. I ran it into town (15 to 20 km one way) and it sat at my mom's place most of the day. Started it that evening no problem and came home. Next day I test start it (later in the evening) and the same problem happened. Jump boost it and started OK. I left it knowing I was just going to have to jump it again in the morning. Jumped it this morning and brought the jump pack with me just in case (good thing!). Truck sat around most of the day and I had to jump it again to get home.

I checked the battery when I got home and it was only reading 12.3V. I boosted the truck to get it running and it was reading around 14.5. Since running it wasn't seeming to get the battery charged, i turned it off and stuck a charger on it for a while. After a short period of time (one charger claimed the battery was charged?), i took the charger off and the battery was reading around 13.4V. I left the truck alone for a couple of hours (no charger hooked up) and checked the battery again, and it's reading 12.6.

Battery is just under two years old. Is the battery pooched or is there something that could be draining the battery? Bad voltage regulator? How do i test the voltage regulator? I couldn't find anything in my manual.

Thanks.

 

[sjr53]

A good battery will only have 12.6 volts after the charging source has been removed for awhile. 14.5 volts is good when the engine is running. If the alternator brushes are worn way down, the alternator will work sometimes, and not work at other times. Having a voltmeter gage installed would help figure this one out.

 

[JTH1972]

I would assume if the alternator was worn that I'd be having more electrical problems than I'm having now. Truck runs fine when it starts. I went to fuel up tonight. I had to jump the truck to start it to go, and truck ran fine with lights and stereo on. Stopped truck and fueled up. When I went to go, starter solenoid made noises but that's about it. I put on the battery booster I had and it started.

So obviously nothing is getting to the battery to charge it. Look at replacing the voltage regulator?

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

Charge the battery to 12 .6,take it to a shop and have them load test it.
If it does pass the load test you can eliminate it as your problem.
Go from the battery back and start checking things out.

 

[sjr53]

A few years back, I wore my brushes down to the springs, at which point it quit charging and was damaged too much for me to repair. The voltage regulator is built into the alternator, so you would have to replace the alternator to fix the regulator, but the 14.5 volts when running shows your voltage regulator is working at least part of the time.

The first step should be cleaning the battery terminals and installing the red & green fiber washers around the posts to prevent corrosion. Make sure the cables appear & feel solid. Measure voltage with engine running for 14 to 15 volts. And if all else is good, have the battery load tested after it has been fully charged. If you have a meter that measures 10 amps of current, check for current draw from the battery when the engine is turned off and doors are closed. It should be under 1/10th of an amp unless you have a light under the hood & that would draw about 1 amp. Maybe 1 of your map lights is turned on. That also happened to me once when its switch went bad. Although a ranger might not have a map light.

 

[holyford86]

A few years back, I wore my brushes down to the springs, at which point it quit charging and was damaged too much for me to repair. The voltage regulator is built into the alternator, so you would have to replace the alternator to fix the regulator, but the 14.5 volts when running shows your voltage regulator is working at least part of the time.

the voltage regulator is not built into the alternator, it can be removed via the 4 torx screws that hold it on. Replacing the voltage regulator probably won't fix the problem though. around here you can get an alternator rebuilt , tested and guaranteed for about 50 bucks.