Get Your "Volts" Up!

You check the oil, the gas, sometimes the tires,
what about the battery? Besides your tires the battery
is one of your vehicles most important and neglected
components!

Checking the water level isn't enough. Low voltage
is a common ailment that will make load levels higher
for computers, fans and all of the vehicle
accessories. Any electric motor will run hotter
because of low voltage, low voltage produces less
horsepower while making the motor pull the same load.
This can cause overheating and premature failure. Some
computers won't operate if the battery voltage is
under 9 volts, even though the engine is turning over.

Vehicle computers, accessories and other components
will have reduced power, run hotter, and may have
early deaths because of low voltage in the main power
source, or battery. Even new batteries can have
different power levels. Most new batteries run between
13 and 15 volts and just because a battery is old
doesn't mean anything, only a volt-meter will
determine if a battery needs replaced. It's worth the
time and effort to keep battery terminals and cables
clean and free of corrosion. A small amount of white or
silicon grease applied with a Q-tip will keep cables
and terminals, 'posts', in contact with each other
much longer and reduce corrosion.

If a battery has build up and a 'wet' look across
the top between terminal posts it is losing power.
Dirt and corrosion on top can actually let electricity
move from the positive to the negative posts and drain
the battery of it's charge. Cleaning a battery is
nasty business and extreme care should be taken to
protect your hands and clothing.

A bad voltage regulator can make your alternator
overcharge your battery. This will also cause the 'wet
look', and after running a few minutes may make your
battery smell. The smell is caused by a hot battery
and the internal water acid mixture evaporating. Not a
good sign. Fumes from a overcharged battery whether
it's by the alternator or a battery charger are
flammable!

In the old days many automobiles had gauges that
would register the amount of electricity the
alternator or generator was producing. In a effort to
make dashboards look nice, (or to save money),
manufacturers are using lights. These lights,
(commonly know as idiot lights), only register when
the end is near, or if that component isn't working at
all.

As I understand the oil, (idiot light), only
registers if the engine has less than five pounds of
oil pressure. Since most engines have between 15 and
50 pounds, (at all times), this is half past time for
a light to come on when your running 75mph down the
freeway! Having a alternator gauge installed isn't a
bad idea. If the gauge shows a high charge rate after
fifteen minutes of driving your battery may have an
internal short and should be replaced.

Most auto parts stores can help in choosing volt and
alternator testing meters. If you don't want to
install gauges, hand held ones will do just fine. Set
the volt meter on 10v, and touch the red probe on the
positive and black probe on the negative battery
terminals. If nothing happens try 1v, if the meter
registers it will be less than ten volts and it's time
to replace the battery. Some force on the probes maybe
required to make contact. Their are alternator voltage
meters that will show how much charge is returning to
the battery by only touching the positive cable. It
meter should read between 12 and 14 volts if done
shortly after start up.

If your not inclined to try your hand at this, a
good competent mechanic can clean your battery, test
the alternator and battery in a half hour or less. I
had a real bad experience with a large chain quick fix
shop. I was in the city when my pickup wouldn't start.
I was sold a new battery and returned home. The next
morning the pickup wouldn't start because the battery
was dead. A quick charge and rebuilt alternator solved
my problem never the less it was an expensive lesson
to learn and a real hassle. A good mechanic shop is
hard to find!

These are very simple tests that anyone can learn to
perform and may save you some hassle. The photos
should help and use the message board, I will answer
any question I can. So keep your volts up!

By Rick Vorce - and www.CountryHay.com 

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