battery charge @ idle??? - Northern California Ford Owners

This is topic battery charge @ idle??? in forum Tech Talk at Northern California Ford Owners .

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Posted by Jdub07 (Member # 2728) on :

Car lights were left on for about 4 or 5 days, maybe more. So the battery of course is dead. I jumped the car and let it idle for about 10-15 min. Went out next day and battery dead. Does the car not charge unless driving it due to my FMS pullies?

Think the battery is too far gone now? About 3 years old.

[ April 09, 2008, 04:41 PM: Message edited by: Jdub07 ]

Posted by aj5.0916 (Member # 7968) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Jdub07:
Car lights were left on for about 4 or 5 days, maybe more. So the battery of course is dead. I jumped the car and let it idle for about 10-15 min. Went out next day and battery dead. Does the car not charge unless driving it due to my FMS pullies?

Think the battery is too far gone now? About 3 years old.

when you drain a batt that low you kill a cell so it will loose power just sitting get a new one

Posted by BCINGUU (Member # 2397) on :

It won't charge much at idle because the rpm isn't high enough to generate much power. Especially with those pulleys. You would need to drive it for half an hour, or plug in a charger.

Better check your battery water level though if you can. Draining the charge can also drain the water, and if the water's low you will melt the lead conductors inside if you try to charge it.

Posted by 68dustin (Member # 5388) on :

Put it on a battery charger....will take forever trying to charge it with your alternator....

Posted by aj5.0916 (Member # 7968) on :

just take it to auto zone or kragen tell them to charge it they will tell u when you come back to get it wont hold charge or its no good aka dead cell this has happened to me like 5 times if not more

[ April 09, 2008, 11:42 PM: Message edited by: aj5.0916 ]

Posted by Blind (Member # 3052) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Jdub07:
Car lights were left on for about 4 or 5 days, maybe more. So the battery of course is dead. I jumped the car and let it idle for about 10-15 min. Went out next day and battery dead. Does the car not charge unless driving it due to my FMS pullies?

Think the battery is too far gone now? About 3 years old.

stock alternator won't charge for shit at idle with pulley's.

have you done the ground wire upgrade? It really helps charging on 5.0's, just go to kragen/whoever and check the battery cable area, pick up a 8" 4awg battery wire with crimped ends for 3/8" bolts, and bolt it to the swaybar bracket on one end, and a bolt on the front of the motor at the other, I used the PS bracket on my 91, and a open bolt hole on the front of the drivers side head on my 89 that doesn't have p/s or ac. Having a good ground makes it charge so much better, I really noticed a huge difference in the 91 which has a stock alt, the headlights are brighter at idle and the blinker even goes faster...

Posted by kingmoochr (Member # 5834) on :

car alternators are designed to sustain a charge in a battery, they arent capable of recharging a dead battery, thats not how theyre designed. take it to kragen, itll either come out fully charged or youll need a new one. totally draining a old battery is probably a good reason to get another one regardless so you dont get stranded somewhere. and as everyone else said, stock fox charging system does suck the balls

Posted by Adam5.0 (Member # 6995) on :

quote:
Originally posted by kingmoochr:
stock fox charging system does suck the balls

Posted by porchstang (Member # 7937) on :

If the battery is 3+ years old it needs to be replaced. Batteries only last on average 3 years I do not care if they say it is a 5 year battery 3 years and replace them.

Posted by Jdub07 (Member # 2728) on :

I'll just get another battery...I don't want to fuck up my alt. trying to charge it. I packed my battery charger already for our move so I'm not about to look for it now. I'll save the battery though,...maybe hook it up in the bed of my sons john deer dump truck. [patriot]

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