78 sc won't start : battery ? alternator ?

[Luc Bernier]

tried to start the car yesterday, turner the key halfway, dim lights, no buzzer, turned it all the way, nothing.

tried it a couple of times, nothing.

turned on the lights, some power left, low intensity.

Should I try to charge the battery ?

What do you think ?


It was running very smoothly the day before.

[Luc Bernier]

oh and one more thing, I think that I saw the red light ...have to check it again tonight...

[boyt911sc]

Luc,

Check the battery voltage and should have atleast 12 volts on the meter for easy start. I had 12.4 volts last night when I checked the battery. I'm also investigating the culprit for my battery drain problem.

Tony

[theiceman]

12 volts wont tell you anything if you have no cranking amps. do a full recharge overnight of the battery. then start it .. if it starts make sure sure you have at least 12.9 volts to charge the battery.

if you do and all is running put an ammeter in series with the battery. ( pull one post and let the current flow through the meter and into the car .. report back how much current ( milliamps setting ) do this with all electrics and car turned off .. if its above about 30ma i would say you have some type of drain. start puling fuses till it goes away. if it doesnt then you probably have a shorted diode in your alternator.

if it does go awa your drain is in that crcuit.

[porwolf]

I had similar experiences a couple of times in the past. The first thing I did have the battery checked at the local Pep-Boys store. They do it for free. Once a battery turned out to be completely dead. Which according to the store people can happen to old batteries when internal electrode disintegrate and suffer a catastrophic collapse. On other occasions the battery was OK but the battery contacts were the problem. Completely cleaning the contact area with a wire brush and making sure the the clamping screw actually does clamp the contacts did the job. Another time the negative ground wire had internally been eaten up by battery acid over time. A new ground strap fixed that problem. In all these cases the battery seemed to go dead suddenly and the car could not be started. I understand that can easily happen in our warm Southern California weather that generally is not a challenge to batteries.

[Luc Bernier]

OK updates,

had CAA check the battery : 7 volts and good for garbage
boosted the battery to start the car in order to go buy a new one, car wouldn't start, came close a few times, then smoke came from under the air filter.

[timmy2]

Get a ride to the store, Install a new battery, check airbox, pop off installed? Make sure it is closed. Pull your spark plugs and fuel pump relay, turn it over a few times. Make sure plugs are dry, have good spark and you don't smell gas. Put it all back together and give it a start.