Bad battery? You tell me...

[Elimax]

Hi all:

My '89 Max won't start. Put in a new updated starter motor, have a 1.5 year old Odyssey PC680 battery, which I use a Battery Tender trickle charger on. She barely turns over. A couple of backfires, that's it, then battery dies.

Jump started her, and read voltage. Around 14 volts at idle, around 13.1 at high revs.

Is the battery done for? Or something else?

Thanks!

Elimax

 

[4gasem]

Best bet is to remove the negative lead from the battery, hook a multi-meter up to it and watch it. It should be in the 12 volt range. It may drop a little but then level off and stick.

If it's below 12 volts and you've charged it, then it's bad.

Now for the charging system... It sounds a bit bassackwards... The voltage should be higher at revs and lower at idle. I'd suspect an issue with it.

Chris

 

[Elimax]

It's definitely NOT higher at higher revs. It drops significantly. So what might this suggest? Bad generator?

By the way, new generators are freakin' expensive!

Thanks.

Elimax