electrical problem

[louie]

so here is the issue I have a 2000 tj, yellow top and stock altenator.

Got to my jeep yesterday aft battery was dead, so I put a trickel charger on for a couple hours started fine and then (after about 5 nins) would drop idle down to about 100 200 rpm unless reved.

So then I put the charger on over night same thing happened again this morn.

No low voltage light comes on, no check engin codes either.

My guessas are there is just a surface charge on the battery which they dont like and...

Please login to view full content. Log in or register now.

 

[Dirk]

WHat is the voltage? Full charge and when it dies?You have a voltmeter, right?
Have you tested the battery with a load tester?

If it were a bad alternator it should run longer than 5 minutes on a charged battery. I suspect the battery.

 

[louie]

not entirly sure if it just a surface charge, the battery tester I have is comming back O.K and it is a MAC not a P.A peice of junk.

But I have found to get inacurate info every tim I test an Optima.

Running the voltage is 13.8, 13.9, 14.1 when it is colder so it is still in speck just getting a bit tired is all!

 

[louie]

3 yrs, walmart, never. most is 5 days sitting

 

[Root Moose]

Supposedly there is a special requirement/charger for charging an optima on the bench. I'd go google it but I'm working from an iPod am just doing the hit and rum email thing.

 

[DoctorPhate]

Supposedly there is a special requirement/charger for charging an optima on the bench. I'd go google it but I'm working from an iPod am just doing the hit and rum email thing.

Well thats not good then because when I worked at canadian tire they would charge every battery from the same charger. Dry cell or not. lol

 

[mucovich]

I read somewhere that wallyworld optima's where reconditioned optima factory seconds, now saying that - i have a wallyworld redtop optima that have given me zero problems for almost 4 years now.

 

[Root Moose]

FWIW, it seems that people are switching to the Odyssey batteries. Sears Platinums are rebranded Odyssey batteries for cheaper and they seem to be holding up just as well.

 

[junkpile]

Silly question but did you check for a voltage drop accross the battery terminals and the battery posts? The alternator may be charging fine but if the battery terminals are corroded inside then the battery is not being charged at or above 12.8v and will then go dead or cause strange/inconsistant driveability issues......the factory Jeep battery terminals aren't Canada proof! oh, does the battery hold it's charge disconnected overnight?

 

[louie]

well I dont think it is the battery or alternator any more seeing i parked it @ 8 am let it sit with no charger, and when I got home from the game @ like 4 it was holding charge, started like a champ and ran like a charm until it warmed up...

So tomorrow I'm going to take off the TB and clean it thourally, do a fuel pressure test, and check for vacume leaks. And take it as it comes!!!

 

[spencervilleexplorer]

hey there ,take the battery and charge it fully.after it is slow charged,it should hold aload test and not drop down below 10volts.

 

[louie]

acctually holdin charge perfect, and not a prob since i cleaned TB and CCV valve.

one more problem and the optima is going in the garbage in favor for 2 odyssey and a bttery seperator!!!

 

[JKMurf]

I would check your ground connection to the frame and make sure its clean. Also, if you have a manual check for an idle air control valve. When these things go, many vehicles will exhibit the same type of behavior. Could also be cracked wires. New plugs and wires might help...if anything, spray some silicone on the wires and see if it makes a difference....I hate electrical problems :banghead:

 

[louie]

good ground connections, cahanging them to 4ga. New plugs. No wires kinda like yours, but you have a coil pack for every cyl as where mine is a bank and is one peice that bolts over all six @ once...